A Havelock police officer was fired after an internal investigation showed he acted inappropriately during a traffic stop.

Alex Swearer had been with the department since 2003. He was fired on March 31st, but appealed the decisions. Havelock City Manager Frank Bottorff reviewed the appeal, but decided it didn’t have any merit in a letter addressed to Swearer on April 23.

In the letter, Bottorff said,”I have concluded that your conduct and performance during the February 21, 2015 traffic stop did not meet the level expected from an experienced operational leader and supervisor in the City of Havelock Police Department.”

Havelock Police Chief David Magnusson said he expects his officers to act appropriately at all times.

“We’ve taken it to a higher level. I’m certainly adamant that everybody under my command, starting with me, do things the way they’re supposed to be done,” Magnusson said.

Craven County District Attorney Scott Thomas said because of the firing, around 31 cases Swearer was involved in will be dismissed.

Specific details on the firing are being kept confidential for privacy reasons.