Cohutta Council Reinstates Police After Mayor's Shock Dismissal
The Cohutta town council held an emergency meeting on Friday evening to reinstate the police department, pushing back against Mayor Ron Shinnick's decision to fire the police chief and all officers.
The council voted unanimously on an ordinance to reinstate the officers, with a second emergency ordinance prohibiting the mayor from disbanding the police department for 30 days.
Key Details of the Meeting
- The emergency meeting was called after the mayor unilaterally dissolved the police department, terminating the chief and approximately 10 officers as of Wednesday morning.
- The meeting agenda originally included a request for the mayor's immediate resignation, but that item was tabled.
- Mayor Shinnick voluntarily left the meeting after the city attorney's opening statement. Vice-Mayor Shane Kornberg assumed the role of mayor for the remainder of the proceedings.
- Kornberg stated he did not believe the police department had been legally disbanded, explaining that the town charter was not followed in the process.
Background of the Dispute
A sign posted earlier this week announced the police department was dissolved "per mayor Ron Shinnick," directing residents to call a county non-emergency number for assistance.
Mayor Shinnick said his actions were prompted by comments officers had posted on social media. However, former police Sergeant Jeremy May offered a different explanation, stating the incident involved a complaint about the mayor's wife, Pam Shinnick, who served as town clerk.
May described the mayor's actions as a "personal vendetta" and said officers took a stand for transparency.
Reactions and Statements
- Lawyer Ken David, representing the officers, expressed satisfaction with the council's decision.
- City Attorney Bryan Rayburn noted that the mayor's actions did not follow the town charter's policies and procedures.
- Former Police Chief Greg Fowler declined to offer detailed comment as officers were vacating the police building.
Cohutta is a town of approximately 930 people, located near the Tennessee state line, roughly 100 miles northwest of Atlanta.