DETROIT -- Local 4 has learned Detroit Police Chief James Barren was relieved of duty Friday afternoon.

Sources told Local 4 that after Barren met with Detroit Mayor Dave Bing, he was let go.

The Detroit Police Department or the Mayor's office will not comment on the situation.

"There have been no changes or announcements regarding changes at the Detroit Police Department at this time," Bing spokeswoman Karen Dumas said Friday.

A telephone listing for a James Barren in Detroit was not working. Messages were left with the police department.

Assistant Chief Ronald Fleming said that Barren told him Wayne County Sheriff Warren Evans would take over as chief starting Monday.

Evans did not immediately return a message from the AP. A voicemail box at a listing for Ronald Fleming in Detroit was full.

Word of Barren's firing came a day after an 18-year-old man arrested on suspicion of shooting seven teens at a bus stop was released, because Wayne County Prosecutor Kym Worthy determined there was a lack of evidence. Barren had said the man was identified as a suspect after investigators spoke with victims of Tuesday's shooting and another person with knowledge of the incident.

No other arrests have been made.

Barren, 57, was appointed by interim Mayor Ken Cockrel Jr. in October 2008.

In 31 years as a police officer, Barren has won awards ranging from the Medal of Valor to several life-saving awards. He has a number of graduate degrees and has most recently worked for General Motors and the Veterans Administration.

Barren was appointed deputy chief in 2003. He retired from the police department in 2004.

Barren replaced Ella Bully-Cummings, who had resigned the month before when he came back to the force.