The Cohutta City Council moved to reinstate the town’s entire police force Friday evening after Mayor Ron Shinnick abruptly dissolved the department earlier this week. Tensions have escalated since the mayor’s wife, Pam Shinnick, lost her job as town clerk earlier this year, and the officers filed formal complaints alleging she maintained unauthorized access to payroll and personnel records after her termination.
The Cohutta City Council moved to reinstate the town’s entire police force Friday evening after Mayor Ron Shinnick abruptly dissolved the department earlier this week.
The emergency meeting was called after the police department was dissolved, and all police officers were fired Wednesday. Residents in the town of 850 people say tensions have escalated since the mayor’s wife, Pam Shinnick, lost her job as town clerk earlier this year. The officers filed formal complaints alleging she maintained unauthorized access to payroll and personnel records after her termination.
The council has not provided a specific timeline for when they might revisit the request for the mayor’s resignation. The city attorney is working with the Whitfield County Sheriff’s Office to transition law enforcement duties back to the local officers as soon as possible. While the police force returns to duty, the council indefinitely tabled a discussion regarding the potential resignation of Mayor Ron Shinnick.
Vice Mayor Shane Kornberg said, "We don’t believe they were legally disbanded, and we’re going to reinstate them immediately.
" Resident Greg Hasty added that the council’s decision “is a start to get our police department back. ” Mayor Shinnick, who denies the firing was retaliatory, voluntarily left the meeting after the executive session
Cohutta City Council Police Force Mayor Ron Shinnick Pam Shinnick Town Clerk Termination Complaints Unauthorized Access Payroll Records Personnel Records Transition Whitfield County Sheriff’S Office Executive Session Mayor’S Wife Police Department Tensions Reinstatement Greg Hasty Shane Kornberg
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