Former Baton Rouge Police Department Chief Dewayne White revealed in a Thursday news conference that he was given an option to either resign or be terminated from his position, and after requesting to call his lawyer, he was fired.

White was fired Wednesday due to “substantial disagreement with the direction of the future of the Baton Rouge Police Department,” according to an email from Chief Administration Officer William Daniel, who White said presented the ultimatum.

After White held a news conference about gun violence and gun safety with children Wednesday, he was called into Daniel’s office and given the option to resign or be terminated, White’s lawyer Jill Craft said. White wanted to call both his lawyer and his wife, but his request was refused and he was given a termination letter, according to Craft.

Craft said issues arose after White’s continuous refusal to be micromanaged by the Mayor-President Kip Holden’s office, including the mayor’s request to have all personnel decisions approved beforehand.

Craft said there were three discrepancies with White’s firing. She said he was highly capable at doing his job, he wanted BRPD to function as an independent entity and he had been an active police chief in the community.

Another rift between the mayor’s office and White was in fall of 2012 when White transferred the union president to community policing, Craft said.

Craft said White wanted to work with the mayor to make the move peacefully after rumors arose about White’s imminent termination.

She said the mayor was evaluating all city heads at the time and was angry with White for contacting a lawyer.

“All we were trying to do was extend an olive branch,” Craft said.

Craft and White will be attending an appeal at the Mayor-President Holden’s office on Feb. 18 and Craft said she would push for it to be open to the public.

The mayor’s office was unavailable for comment at this time.