DEMOPOLIS &045; Public Safety Director Jeff Manuel confirmed yesterday that Terrence Lavelle Smith was fired from the Demopolis Police Department.

Manuel said Smith was removed from the department on Dec. 20 after an internal investigation revealed that he had violated department policies. In an interview with Manuel on Dec. 20, he said only that Smith had been placed on administrative leave until an internal investigation was concluded.

The Marengo County Sheriff’s Department charged Smith, 30, with three counts of rape II, which involves sexual activities with a minor between the ages of 13 and 16. Manuel said the first incident occurred on Nov. 2 and that there were three separate occurrences between Smith and the same minor before Manuel was informed of the activities. He said one of the alleged incidents was reported to have happened while Smith was on duty.

Manuel said that the sheriff’s department handled the criminal side of the investigation, while the police department began an internal investigation. Manuel said yesterday that the internal investigation began on Dec. 16 and that Smith was fired at the conclusion of the investigation on Dec. 20.

Smith was arrested on criminal charges by the Marengo County Sheriff’s Department on Dec. 19. His bond was set at $20,000 for each of the three charges brought against him. The sheriff’s department said Smith made bond on Dec. 21 and is no longer in the county detention center.