Entire police department in Cohutta fired by mayor
COHUTTA, Ga. - Major turmoil is unfolding in the North Georgia town of Cohutta after the mayor fired the town’s entire police department.
What we know:
The town council in Whitfield County has called a special meeting for Friday. According to the posted agenda, council members plan to request reinstatement of the police department and the removal of Mayor Ron Shinnick.
The police department was reportedly dissolved days after six officers filed formal complaints concerning the mayor’s wife, Pam Shinnick, according to Chattanooga's Local 3 News.
Pam Shinnick was recently fired from her position as town clerk. However, according to letters submitted by the six officers, she continued working and still had access to personal information after her termination.
The Whitfield County Sheriff's Office is currently providing service to Cohutta residents.
Dig deeper:
According to the Chattanooga Times Free Press, former Cohutta Police Chief Greg Fowler said Mayor Ron Shinnick told him Wednesday morning that the Cohutta Police Department would be shut down immediately and all officers were fired. Fowler said the mayor partly blamed a recent Facebook post by the department, though the post could not be located and the department’s Facebook page has since been removed.
A sign posted outside the department told residents to contact the Whitfield County Sheriff's Office for help. The sheriff’s office said service and emergency response times would not be affected.
Former Sgt. Drew Thornton said officers expected fallout after six members of the department signed an open letter criticizing the mayor and his wife, former town clerk Pam Shinnick. The letter reportedly objected to her reinstatement after she had previously been fired over allegations she created a hostile work environment.