Mancos Marshal John Cox has been placed on paid administrative leave for an undisclosed personnel matter, according to town officials.

The decision to place Cox on leave was made in an hourlong executive session at a special meeting, held on Nov. 4 after a Mancos Town Board of Trustees workshop.

Town administrator Andrea Phillips declined to provide specifics on the personnel matter that led to the decision, but she said the town will be adequately covered from a public-safety standpoint in the interim.

The town’s two deputy marshals, Yvonne McClellan and Jason Spruell, are now reporting to Phillips, and all of Cox’s equipment has been collected to ensure he is not acting as an officer. “The town has coverage for public safety with our two deputies and backup from the (Montezuma County) Sheriff’s Office,” Phillips said.

The period of time in which Cox will be on leave has not been determined, and town trustees will need to take action to bring Cox back on, Phillips confirmed.

Cox was hired as a deputy marshal in August 2012 and promoted in April 2013 after former Marshal Bill Knauer took a police chief job in Indiana.