Visitors to the Phoenix Police Department were greeted with a locked door Thursday for reasons neither the mayor nor the Jackson County sheriff would explain.

The closure came a day after Phoenix Police Chief Bob Kershaw, 64, resigned following a sheriff’s investigation alleging he altered a police report to absolve his son — a Phoenix community service officer — of possible criminal charges related to a January party at Kershaw’s home where marijuana was present.

The apparent closing of the police department followed a Wednesday evening executive session called by the Phoenix City Council in which possible disciplinary action against Kershaw was discussed.

Phoenix Mayor Vicki Bear did not return repeated phone calls asking her to comment on the department’s closing. People wishing to speak with Phoenix police were referred to City Hall personnel, who appeared to serve as liaisons between citizens and the police department throughout the day.

Attempts to reach Phoenix officers Thursday were unsuccessful.

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Sheriff Mike Winters refused to say whether Phoenix police were still patrolling roads since his agency took over the department’s administrative duties following Kershaw’s arrest.

When asked what agency was responding to Phoenix police calls, dispatchers referred all questions to the sheriff’s department.

Talent Police Chief Bob Rector said his department was prepared to respond to trouble within Phoenix city limits.

"We traditionally assist the Phoenix Police Department on a daily basis," Rector said. "It’s really business as usual."

Since Kershaw’s resignation, Rector said the sheriff’s department has "picked up most of the slack" in patrolling Phoenix streets.

"Being spring break, a lot of people are gone, it’s fortunately quiet," Rector said.

The relative quiet surrounding the Phoenix Police Department the last two days was in sharp contrast to Kershaw’s tumultuous career in law enforcement.

In July 1991, he was fired from his position as a sergeant in the Keizer Police Department amid allegations of illegally taping phone conversations, leaking confidential information, failing to appear as a witness in court while suspended with pay and using a city vehicle and cellular phone for personal business.

He later sued the police department. As part of the settlement his records were changed to state that he had resigned.

The state Government Standards and Practices Commission concluded in December 1991 that Kershaw broke state law by using the city’s car and cellular phone for personal use.

In 1999, two Phoenix officers under Kershaw’s supervision were arrested. Jon Edward Bigman, 37, was indicted in September on charges of misdemeanor sex abuse and public indecency. Two months later, officer Mike West, 55, was arrested after he failed to appear in court on a misdemeanor assault charge. West was arraigned on fourth-degree assault in March of that year for allegedly choking a belligerent but handcuffed shoplifter.

Former Phoenix Lt. Bob McKean resigned in 2003 after an internal investigation alleged a fellow officer misused city property within the department.

Kershaw was hired in 1993 after his predecessor, Jack Jones, was fired amidst allegations of mismanagement.

Reach reporter Chris Conrad at 776-4471, or e-mail cconrad@mailtribune.com.