ST. PAUL, Neb. (AP) — The new mayor of St. Paul has fired the police chief who’d amassed 24 years on the job.

Former chief Steven Studnicka said he was shocked by his ouster.

The new mayor, Tracy Howard, was elected last month. Howard was sworn in Monday, and Studnicka soon was out of work. Marcus Paczosa, who’d been serving as a sergeant under Studnicka, was named to replace him.

Studnicka says the only reason he was given is that Howard wanted to go in a different direction.

Howard declined to comment, saying it was a personnel matter. St. Paul code says police officers may be removed from their jobs at the discretion of the mayor.

St. Paul is county seat of Howard County and has about 2,300 residents.