Acting Lawrenceville Police Chief discloses 7-year-old affair to 'heal our department'
LAWRENCEVILLE, Ga. - With his wife by his side, Lawrenceville’s acting police chief called a news conference to admit an extra-marital affair from seven years ago.
"My wife and I have moved on," Myron Walker said. "This is seven years ago. My family has moved on."
LAWRENCEVILLE POLICE CHIEF AGREES TO STEP DOWN IN WAKE OF SEXUAL HARASSMENT PROBE
Lawrenceville Acting Police Chief Myron Walker addresses marital infidelity case accompanied by his wife and city leaders
But the past has a way of storming back to the present when you least expect.
Walker took over the department’s top job after the previous chief was suspended — and later retired — in the wake of a sexual harassment investigation.
Walker was not implicated in the outside probe, but whispers of what happened seven years ago began to spread.
He said he decided to hold a news conference to end the rumors and let his department move forward.
"I can’t tell you how sorry I am for this intense pain this story will cause my wife and daughters," Walker told reporters. "But I speak to you today in an effort to ensure the truth be told and ask our community for forbearance as we weather the storm."
According to his file with Peace Officer Standards and Training Council, Walker admitted an extra-marital affair in November 2014 — when he worked as a sergeant for the Gwinnett County Sheriff’s Office.
Myron Walker became the first Black Major in Lawrenceville police history. The other men in this picture -- Captain Ryan Morgan (L) and Chief Tim Wallis -- would retire after Captain Tawnya Gillavanni accused them of sexual harassment. Walker was not
Police were called to the "mistress’ home" when he tried to break it off. No charges were ever filed.
The report said Walker "had sex at the facility in various administrative offices, in a patrol unit, and on occasion… while on duty."
Walker told the I-Team the affair never took place on duty.
"I would have been fired if that were true," he told the FOX 5 I-Team.
Instead, Walker was busted down to corporal, put on probation by POST for 12 months and assigned duties in the jail.
"I thought I had did my time," Walker said in the news conference. "And I thought I received my punishment for what I did and I did those things."
In 2018 Walker became the first Black Major in the history of the Lawrenceville police department. He disclosed the affair to city leaders before he was hired.
Sexual Harassment Investigation of the Lawrenceville Police Department
All seemed well, until a sexual harassment report was made public earlier this year. Captain Ryan Morgan was accused of directing lewd comments toward Captain Tawnya Gilovanni, often calling her "hooker.
LAWRENCEVILLE CHIEF SUSPENDED FOR INAPPROPRIATE COMMENTS MADE TO A FEMALE CAPTAIN
Gilovanni also secretly recorded the chief complaining about her attire.
Captain Tawnya Gilovanni told investigators this is the pink t-shirt that prompted her chief to call her a "Hooters girl." She said she had removed her uniform shirt because the building AC was not working.
"Are you working here or are you working at Hooters?" Wallis asked. "Go get you some orange shorts on."
The FOX 5 I-Team obtained a photo of what Gilovanni says she was wearing that day: a pink shirt in honor of breast cancer awareness.
The report also found evidence of a hostile work environment for other female employees in the department.
The department's future
Walker would not talk about his interest — or chances — of becoming the full-time chief in wake of the allegations he himself brought to light.
"I’m going to let the guys who work for me right now, and the city manager and the city council and the mayor make that decision," he explained. "I’m just here to move us forward and heal our department."
Mayor David Still and city manager Chuck Warbington stood near their acting chief during the news conference. But each left without offering their thoughts about the past… or the present.