Joseph Fitzgerald, former chief of police, Forsyth Township

GWINN — After only about four months on the job, Forsyth Township Police Chief Joe Fitzgerald resigned from the position during a closed session of a special meeting of the Forsyth Township Board Tuesday, according to officials.

Fitzgerald’s resignation became effective today, Forsyth Township Supervisor Joe Boogren said this morning.

While Boogren could not comment on what led to the resignation, he noted that it was unrelated to the shooting incident that occurred in Gwinn April 9.

Fitzgerald assumed the position as chief of police Jan. 7 after former Police Chief Gordy Warchock retired, officials said. Fitzgerald, who began his police career with the Gaylord Police Department and became chief of that agency in 2006, was hired by the Forsyth Township Board during a special meeting Dec. 6.

The township will soon be starting the search for Fitzgerald’s replacement, Boogren said.

“We obviously will do some kind of a search for a replacement. We’re not actively doing that at this moment,” Boogren said.

During the shooting on April 9, police responded to a call of an alleged home invasion at a residence along Stephenson Street where they found a conscious woman with a gunshot wound. Authorities searched the area and a lockdown on the nearby Gwinn Middle/High School was put in place.

However, police later said it was unclear whether there really was a suspect. The woman was transported to the hospital and authorities said the following day that she was in stable condition.

No further information was released on the incident.