Delmore held a press conference Sunday in the south parking lot of the Pelham Police Department to lay out what he says led to his suspension. City officials gave no public explanation when they placed him on leave.
Delmore told reporters he wanted to clear his name. "I've been involved in something in the last few weeks that is disappointing," he said, adding that he was speaking as a private citizen even though most of what happened occurred while he served as police chief.
He didn't detail the specific concerns he raised about the city manager during the press conference.
For a police department, having its chief publicly accuse city hall of retaliation creates an unusual rift right at the top of the chain of command. Pelham residents are now left waiting to hear the city's side of why its top cop got sidelined with no explanation, and whether Delmore's claims hold up.
A police chief chose a parking lot, not a courtroom or a council meeting, to make his case public.