We see this garbage too often on the local, state, and national levels. Officials take an action (and maybe with good reason).
But then they arrogantly refuse to offer even a bare-bones explanation to their citizens. Just shut up and get your tax payments in on time, peasants.
That they suspended them with pay says there is some degree of uncertainty as to what is going on.
It might be that one officer was doing something wrong. Or it may be that the entire department was either up to shenanigans or turning a blind eye.
Or perhaps the council is up to shenanigans.
Either way there is not enough information in the article to make any sort of judgment.