Neither Columbia police Chief Ken Burton nor any city leaders would comment Wednesday morning on a letter saying he is willing to entertain monetary offers from the city to leave his post.

In a letter sent Friday to Mayor Brian Treece � copies were sent to the six members of the Columbia City Council and City Manager Mike Matthes � an attorney representing Burton accused the mayor of violating the city charter by �seeking support of the city council to remove him from his job� and asked the mayor to consider making an offer to Burton if he wants the chief gone.

�If you wish to remove him from service, Chief Burton would consider monetary offers the city may make to him if it is your wish that he move on,� wrote Thad Mulholland, Burton�s attorney. �If you wish to establish a dialog in that regard, please communicate directly with me about same.�

Over the past several days, police union members have accused top department officials of not responding to officer complaints, and race activists have expressed outrage over the chief�s opinion about racial profiling data from the Missouri Attorney General�s Office. The complaints reached a crescendo Monday during a city council meeting. Activists walked out over Burton�s denial that Columbia police profile black residents, and a Columbia Police Officers� Association representative addressed the council about an anonymous survey that indicated low morale among the department�s rank-and-file.

The Tribune received Burton�s letter Tuesday from a city council member on condition of anonymity. Treece and Matthes did not respond to numerous requests for comment. The other members of the council either declined to comment or did not respond to messages seeking comment.

The letter accuses Treece of violating Article 2, Section 12 of the city charter by allegedly seeking support from council members to oust Burton. That section of the charter bars the council as a whole or any of its members from directing or requesting the removal of a city staff member such as the police chief, or interfering with such an appointment or removal.

�Except for the purpose of inquiry, or as otherwise provided in this charter, the council and its members shall deal with the administrative officers and services solely through the city manager, and neither the council nor any member thereof shall give orders to the subordinates of the city manager, either publicly or privately,� the charter says.

Any council member who violates the provisions of that section must forfeit his or her position, according to the charter.

The letter from Eng & Woods law firm reminds city officials that state law bars the removal of a police chief without just cause. State law provides specific circumstances by which a police chief can be removed from his or her post, including when the chief:

�Is unable to perform his or her duties with reasonable competence or reasonable safety as a result of a mental condition, including alcohol or substance abuse.��Has committed any act, while engaged in the performance of his or her duties, that constitutes a reckless disregard for the safety of the public or another law enforcement officer.��Has caused a material fact to be misrepresented for any improper or unlawful purpose.��Acts in a manner for the sole purpose of furthering his or her self-interest or in a manner inconsistent with the interests of the public or the chief�s governing body.��Has been found to have violated any law, statute or ordinance which constitutes a felony.��Has been deemed insubordinate or found to be in violation of a written established policy.�

Mulholland�s letter said Burton has not received written notice of the intention to remove him from office or notice of his opportunity to present his case as outlined in state law.

Burton previously told the Tribune he did not have concrete plans to remain police chief beyond 2016.

Former City Manager Bill Watkins selected Burton from a group of four candidates, and he took over as police chief on March 30, 2009. In the two years after Burton was hired, Watkins left and Matthes took over.

Shortly after Matthes came to Columbia, Burton applied for another police chief position in Texas �to keep his options open in case Matthes wanted to hire a new police chief,� he told the Tribune in October 2011.

In that same interview, Burton told the Tribune he and Matthes had a �gentleman�s agreement� for him to remain police chief for at least five years, after which he would consider retirement, remain at the Columbia Police Department or pursue other endeavors.

Neither Burton nor his attorney with Eng & Woods responded to phone calls seeking comment.

This story was first published online on Tuesday, July 19, 2016 at 4:26 p.m.