Mayor of small Georgia town dissolves police department after officers' dispute with his wife
Town council votes to restore 10 officers and give them back pay after the shutdown sparked a dispute over the mayor’s wife and internal complaints.
- The Cohutta Town Council convened a special meeting to discuss reinstating the police department after Mayor Ron Shinnick dissolved the entire force. The agenda also includes a request for Shinnick's immediate resignation.
- Shinnick terminated the police chief and about 10 officers on Wednesday morning, citing social media comments as justification. Officers claim the firing stems from a personal vendetta regarding complaints they raised about Pam Shinnick, the mayor's wife and former town clerk.
- Whitfield County Sheriff Darren J. Pierce stated his office is assuming law enforcement services for Cohutta. Pierce assured residents the transition ensures continued assistance for the town of about 930 people without affecting emergency response times.
- The council agenda includes a call for a third-party investigation into Shinnick's removal from office alongside the resignation request. Townspeople are seeking public answers about exact reasons for the department's sudden dissolution.
- City officials held a press conference in late April where Police Chief Greg Fowler and Shinnick announced they had resolved concerns regarding Pam Shinnick's access to town systems after her termination as clerk. The sudden dissolution came less than a week later.
81 Articles
81 Articles
Georgia town reinstates police force days after mayor fired entire department
NEWYou can now listen to Fox News articles! A small Georgia town’s police force was reinstated Friday after the mayor fired every officer just days earlier, drawing backlash and prompting action by the town council. During a special meeting, the Cohutta Town Council voted to reinstate the officers immediately and provide back pay, the town’s vice mayor told The Associated Press. The council also passed a separate measure preventing the mayor …
Small Georgia town reinstates police officers and department 2 days after the mayor fired them all
COHUTTA, Ga. (AP) — A town council in a small north Georgia mountain community passed an ordinance Friday reinstating the community’s police department and restoring the jobs of the police officers two days after the mayor fired them all. A standing room-only crowd of townspeople, news media and the police officers attended the special meeting of the Cohutta Town Council, council member and Vice Mayor Shane Kornberg told The Associated Press aft…
Cohutta Mayor Takes Drastic Action… Disbands Police Force Amid Controversy
The recent firing of the entire police force in Cohutta, Georgia, marks a significant shift in local governance. Mayor Ron Shinnick’s unilateral decision to disband the police department has raised many eyebrows and drawn sharp criticism from both residents and former officers alike. This move appears driven by personal disputes involving the mayor’s wife, Pam Shinnick, who had faced termination as town clerk but allegedly continued to interfere…
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