At Monday’s Memorial Day ceremony, Mayor Ruthanne Fuller gave a shout-out to Newton Police Superintendent George McMains and referred to him as “acting chief.”

It turns out Newton Police Chief John Carmichael Jr. is away from duty for the time being.

“For personal reasons Chief John Carmichael is on a special leave of absence,” Ellen Ishkanian, director of community communications for the city, said, adding that McMains was serving as acting chief in Carmichael’s absence.

That’s all the information that was available as of Monday.