Metro Transit Police Chief Ernest Morales III, who has been on leave from the department, is no longer working for the agency, according to the Metropolitan Council.

Morales was on paid administrative leave, effective Aug. 9. As of Monday, he was no longer an employee of the department.

The Metropolitan Council, of which Metro Transit is a service, would not provide information Tuesday about whether Morales resigned or under what circumstances he left the department, citing the state’s data practices law.

Metro Transit Police Capt. Joseph Dotseth, who has been serving as interim chief, will continue “during this transition,” according to a message sent Monday to employees.

The Met Council is still determining whether it will conduct a national search for the next chief or what the process will involve.

The Met Council announced in January 2023 that it selected Morales to lead the Metro Transit Police Department after a national search. He was previously first deputy police commissioner in Mount Vernon, N.Y. He served most of his career at the New York City Police Department.

Morales worked to be a visible presence to the public during his time as chief.

In a video posted on Metro Transit Police Department’s social media channels just before his departure in August, Morales highlighted crime statistics released as part of quarterly updates. In the second quarter of this year, overall reported crime declined by 17.5 percent compared to the same time last year.