Cohutta town council re-establishes police force shortly after mayor’s widespread dismissals.

Police Force in Small Georgia Town Reinstated After Controversial Firings

A small town in Georgia has reinstated its police force following a significant backlash against the mayor’s decision to fire all officers just days earlier. The town council convened for a special meeting where they voted to bring the police employees back and also decided to compensate them for their missed wages, according to the town’s deputy mayor.

In addition, the council introduced a measure aimed at preventing the mayor from firing any officers for the next 30 days. However, they postponed discussions regarding other agenda items, notably a proposal to remove Mayor Ron Shinnick from his position.

This sudden turn of events came after Mayor Shinnick closed the Cohutta Police Department and terminated ten staff members, leaving the community of around 1,000 residents without law enforcement services.

The local Sheriff’s Office has stepped in to assist during this gap, as Cohutta is located near the Tennessee border, about 160 miles northwest of Atlanta.

Earlier in the week, a notice posted on the police station announced that the department had been disbanded and all personnel had been let go. The specific reasons for the terminations were not disclosed, but they seem linked to a dispute involving a formal complaint against Pam Shinnick, the mayor’s wife, who had previously worked for the town.

Pam Shinnick was dismissed from her role due to allegations of creating a “hostile work environment.” Officers claimed she retained access to sensitive personal information of residents even after her termination.

A week prior to the firings, both Shinnick and Police Chief Greg Fowler, along with the town attorney, had addressed the media, indicating that the situation was resolved through “open dialogue and honest mediation.” Yet, the complete disbandment of the department occurred shortly after.

Former Sergeant Jeremy May expressed his belief that the dismissals were driven by the mayor’s personal motives, suggesting that the officers lost their positions for promoting transparency.

Deputy Mayor Shane Kornberg revealed that legal advice suggested the firings violated the town charter, which typically requires a 30-day notification before dismissing or suspending employees. Following an executive session where they discussed pursuing a lawsuit, the council emerged without the mayor and agreed to reinstate the police force.