A Centre police officer was fired after his arrest Wednesday for allegedly planting evidence.

Michael Kilgore’s official charge is listed as criminal conspiracy to commit a controlled substance crime-distribution.

Centre Police Chief Kirk Blankenship said Kilgore was no longer with the department.

“We are very disappointed in Kilgore’s conduct,” Blankenship said. “There is no excuse for any officer violating the law like this.”

District Attorney Summer Summerford said the majority of police officers in the country are trustworthy and hard working, but called for accountability as well.

“We have great law enforcement officers serving in the 9th Judicial Circuit,” she said. “The overwhelming majority of officers across the Nation work hard and dedicate themselves to keeping our communities safe.

“Law enforcement officers that break the law and violate both the public’s trust and other officer’s trust will be prosecuted.”

The arrest was made by Centre Police Department Investigator Randy Mayorga, poilce said.

Agencies taking part in the arrest were the district attorney’s office, the Gadsden office of the FBI, and the Cherokee County Sheriff’s Office.

Austen Shipley is a staff writer for Yellowhammer News.