IOWA CITY, Iowa (AP) – The embattled assistant director of the Iowa Law Enforcement Academy has been fired, weeks before he was set to retire following a 48-year career in law enforcement. Academy director Arlen Ciechanowski told The Associated Press that he has dismissed assistant director Michael Quinn. He said he couldn’t elaborate because it’s a confidential personnel issue.

The firing is puzzling because Quinn announced in April that he would retire June 30 following months of criticism for making inappropriate sexual and threatening remarks to female cadets and colleagues. Ciechanowski had let Quinn stay in his job but gave him a final warning after a 2012 investigation found that he violated anti-discrimination and violence-free workplaces policies.

Democrats and advocates for victims had repeatedly criticized Gov. Terry Branstad’s administration for keeping Quinn at the academy.