The commander who publicly contradicted D.C. Police Chief Cathy Lanier’s claim that department policy prohibited police escorts for celebrities has been relieved of his duties.

Hilton Burton was fired Monday as head of the Special Operations Division, where he oversaw the department’s SWAT, police escorts and terrorism response units. He was also demoted two ranks to captain. He’s been transferred to the medical services division and his pay has been docked $30,000, he said.