The appeal hearing for a terminated Vicksburg police officer was not held earlier this week because she negotiated a resignation, the officer said.

Taffela Mills, 41, an eight-year employee of the police department, was fired by city officials Jan. 2 with insubordination provided as the reason.

She appealed for a Civil Service Commission review but, on Monday, the three-member panel posted a notice saying the hearing was canceled at Mills’ request.

&#8220I was allowed to resign with benefits,” Mills said.

Associate City Attorney Walterine Langford, declined to say whether Mills was offered a deal. &#8220I can’t answer any employment questions,” she said.

Langford did say the financial benefit any city employee would receive upon termination, resignation or retirement is accumulated leave pay.

&#8220If you have leave time that is 240 hours, or 30 days, you are entitled to that amount of money,” she said. &#8220But there are no benefits the city gives anybody differently than that, whether they resign, retire or are terminated. And that is a state benefit.”

Vicksburg Police Chief Tommy Moffett also declined comment.

Initially, Mills was suspended by the city Sept. 5 following &#8220investigation into an incident that occurred on Sept. 3,” a document filed with the Civil Service Commission by the city says.

Her attorney, Richard Dean, has said the investigation was into an incident that happened while Mills was off-duty and that resulted in her being charged with two misdemeanors. One, she said, was dismissed and the other was remanded.

The appeal of the suspension was disallowed by Civil Service Commission because it was not filed within the required 10 days. That ruling is being appealed to Warren County Circuit Court.

Mills, also a member of the U.S. Coast Guard, had served several deployments with that service. She had returned from her most recent deployment in July.

The three members of the Civil Service Commission review, when requested, job actions taken regarding police and fire personnel. Their role is to assure hiring, promotions, demotions, suspensions and firings are based on performance, not politics or favoritism. They can uphold, reverse or modify city actions.

Mills said she would like to remain in law-enforcement work and may seek employment in another city.