The Whitfield County Sheriff’s Office announced that its deputies will assist the town. A sign posted on the door of the department earlier this week stated, “The PD is dissolved and all personnel has been terminated.” The exact reasons for the firings are not known, but the shutdown seems to be linked to a dispute that occurred last month, after officers filed formal complaints about the mayor’s spouse, former town clerk Pam Shinnick. Officers alleged in their complaints that she continued working and had access to residents’ personal information despite her termination.Following the complaints, Shinnick, Police Chief Greg Fowler and town attorney Bryan Rayburn said during a press conference that the situation had been resolved through “open dialogue and good-faith mediation. “But only one week later the entire department was dissolved. Jeremy May spoke to WRCB-TV. “We stood up for transparency and as a result, all of them lost their jobs. “Accordingly to Vice Mayor Shane Kornberg the town’s lawyer told the council that the firings were not in accordance with the town charter which requires 30 day’s notice before employees can either be removed or suspended. Kornberg said that the council went into an executive session to discuss possible litigation and emerged from the meeting without the mayor The council then voted on restoring the police force.
