The Village of Craig Beach is without a police chief after controversy over a Facebook post leading to the two sides parting ways.

The post, asking the community to support its officers, but noting that "every move is a constant uphill battle with certain powers that be."

"We're driving cars that are falling apart, and you're asking council over and over again; 'Can we get this equipment?', 'and it's 'no, no, no, no.", said chief Kyle Pettus.

While the post doesn't mention specific individuals, the police chief says certain council members fit that description.

"I've had council members tell me that I won't support anything that you put through but not give me a reason as to why," Pettus explained

The commander says village mayor James Becker asked him to take down the post, which he says he didn't post.

"When he told me I should remove the post, I told him I don't see the point in removing the post, there is nothing wrong with the post," the police chief stated, adding that it doesn't violate their policy as a police department, or social media policy.

"So when I told him that I wasn't going to remove the post--the mayor's response to me was: 'Maybe you should just'," Pettus finished the sentence with resign, to which he says the mayor agreed.

"I told him I'm not going to resign, I haven't done anything wrong, and you don't have enough to fire me," he explained.

At the end of the conversation, Pettus says the Mayor he informed him he was on a leave of absence. He tells 21 News he still isn't sure about his status with the police department, being that the mayor didn't go through the necessary channels to have him removed.

"I'm just sitting back, and seeing how everything plays out. I've stepped away from my position as chief for now, because technically that's what he said.", Pettus, alluding to the mayor. In the meantime, he says he's letting the staff that still exists, take control of the department.

On the other side, the mayor says Pettus asked him if he wanted him to quit, at which point he suggested laying him off.

However the village leader, along with councilman Jamie Becker acknowledged the tension between the police chief and other members of council.

Mayor Becker says the chief, like the four other officers on staff, are part time and work 6-10 hours a week. According to the village leader, Milton Township and the Mahoning County Sheriff's office handle around 60 percent of the village's calls, to which Pettus disagrees.

"I can honestly tell you since my tenure as the police chief we have put a damper on the crime, we've chased out the drug dealers, we've shut down the dope houses--so I can say that Craig Beach is a relatively safe place to live, but when the police aren't there, and they aren't patrolling is when problems start to occur.", Pettus pointed to, adding that the Sheriff's Department will respond to emergency calls.

"At this point we're just kind of in limbo right now as a police department.", Pettus concluded.

The Mayor says the police department is still operating.