COHUTTA, Ga. (AP) — The town council of Cohutta, a small community in north Georgia, convened a special meeting on Friday evening to deliberate on the reinstatement of the police department after a controversial decision by Mayor Ron Shinnick to terminate the entire police force, including the chief and approximately ten officers.
The announcement for the meeting, posted outside the Cohutta Town Hall, stated that the council would also address a request for the mayor's "immediate resignation." This development follows earlier turmoil in the town of about 930 residents, where a sign was placed indicating that the police department had been dissolved "per Mayor Ron Shinnick." The sign added that citizens in need of assistance should contact a non-emergency county number.
As of Wednesday morning, the jobs of Chief Greg Fowler and the other officers were officially terminated. However, the specific reasons for these dismissals have not been disclosed publicly. Residents of Cohutta are keen to learn more about the situation at the special meeting on Friday. Mayor Shinnick indicated that the action was prompted by comments made by officers on social media. According to former Sgt. Jeremy May, the controversy stems from a complaint raised by officers regarding Shinnick's wife, Pam Shinnick, who had served as the town clerk.
"This all comes down to a personal vendetta from the mayor, and I wholeheartedly believe that," May told WRCB-TV. "We took a stand for transparency, and as a result, every one of them has lost their jobs."
Chief Greg Fowler expressed that he could not provide detailed comments while officers were in the process of vacating the police department and removing equipment. Mayor Shinnick mentioned that he is uncertain about what steps will be taken next following the mass firing.
In the absence of any police officers, the Whitfield County Sheriff's Office announced that deputies would be available to assist residents if needed. Cohutta, situated just south of the Tennessee border, is located approximately 100 miles (161 kilometers) northwest of Atlanta.
