IRMO, SC — The Irmo Police chief has been suspended the last four weekdays for taking time off without permission, town officials said.

Chief Brian Buck was suspended without pay from Wednesday to Monday, said Bob Brown, the town’s administrator.

Irmo Mayor Hardy King said the suspension was given in part for taking a day off without approval.

"Everybody has to have permission to take off," King said. "He forgot to notify people he was taking it."

Wednesday, Buck confirmed the reason for his suspension. He said he emailed other officers in the office that he would be out, but had forgotten to include Brown’s address in the message.

“It was my fault,” Buck said. “It was my responsibility to let him know.”

Tim Flach and R. Darren Price