FRANKLIN—Former Police Sgt. Ronnie McClenny says he will not be getting his gun back.

McClenny, who sparked a controversy when he announced his resignation from the Franklin Police Department and criticized Police Chief Phil Hardison at a City Council meeting in November, said he spoke to Hardison last week and was given the final word on a request to purchase his service weapon from the Police Department.

McClenny said a city policy enacted in 1990 says that retired police officers with at least 20 years of service may be allowed to purchase their service weapons for $1 at the police chief’s discretion.

McClenny said Hardison explained his decision during a 30-minute telephone conversation between the two men last week.

McClenny said the chief told him that he violated city policy because he didn’t give “proper notice to the city” of his intention to retire.

However, McClenny said that he had “verbally notified” the city’s human resources manager weeks before his resignation during the City Council’s Nov. 9 meeting.

Hardison referred to the situation with McClenny as a personnel matter and declined to comment.

“There is nothing I can do now,” McClenny said.