Decatur County Prison warden Elijah McCoy submitted a letter of resignation to the Board of Commissioners Thursday morning.

“It is with deep regret that I resign my position as Warden at Decatur County Prison effective Friday, July 31, 2015,” McCoy’s letter reads. “I have made this decision based on personal reasons.”

McCoy was suspended with pay on July 15 while an independent, non-criminal investigation was conducted at the prison due to accusations of misconduct and mismanagement. The investigator, Ed Mercer, served as Warden of the Liberty Correctional Institution in Bristol, Florida, from 2011-13 and warden of the Indian River Correctional Institution in Vero Beach, Florida, from 2008-11.

Decatur County administrator Alan Thomas said the Board of Commissioners has an opportunity to name an interim director if they desire. With McCoy out of the office for the past two weeks, deputies and others in the administration have been running the prison.

“If it’s been working in (McCoy’s) absence, then we’ll keep on moving along,” said Thomas.

McCoy has worked at the Decatur County prison for more than 20 years.

“I consider him a good friend,” said Commissioner Russell Smith, who worked in the Florida Department of Corrections for 34 years before retiring. “I was deeply saddened when I heard that (he resigned).”

This story will be updated as more information becomes available.