A small Georgia city is preparing to lose its entire full-time policeforce after officers resigned amid allegationsand growing concerns about city leadership.
Milner Police Chief Lamar Bunn and the city's five full-time officers have submitted their resignations, along with most of the city's reserve officers, according to officials.
City Manager Tausha Grose also announced her resignation during a City Council meeting Oct. 19.
The police department's last day is scheduled for Oct. 28, while Grose is expected to remain city manager through Oct. 30.
So what happened in Milner?
Police chief accused mayor of tracking his truck
One of the most serious allegations raised during the dispute involves Mayor Craig Timmons and a tracking device allegedly placed on Bunn's personal truck.
Bunn accused city
leadership of placing a tracker on his vehicle without his knowledge or authorization. He said he consulted an outside agency about whether the tracking device violated the law or his rights.
Bunn also said he would not object to the city tracking his vehicle if it were done through proper channels.
During the Oct. 19 City Council meeting, Timmons was asked whether he was responsible for placing a tracking device on the police chief's truck. He declined to comment.
The tracking allegation was also cited in at least one officer's resignation letter, which raised concerns about the judgment and decision-making of Timmons and certain City Council members regarding the police department.
The allegation has not been established as fact.
Police chief also cited leadership and ethical concerns
Bunn alleged that a tracking device had been placed on his truck without the knowledge of the City Council, his supervisor or the city administrator. He said the device was purchased with personal funds.
"City Hall every day, it's got a tracker on my truck, it was bought with personal funds and placed on my vehicle without the city council or my supervisor, city administrator knowing it," Bunn said.
Bunn also said he had been falsely accused of having an affair with Grose.
The tracking-device allegation has not, based on the information available for this story, been established as a finding of wrongdoing. Timmons acknowledged concerns during the council meeting and said he hoped the situation could be resolved.
City manager also resigns
Grose announced her own resignation during the same City Council meeting.
She said a breakdown in trust had made it impossible for her to effectively perform her job.
"The trust is gone. I have been rendered ineffective in my position," Grose said during the meeting, according to CBS Atlanta.
Grose had been with the city for six years.
Another officer called for an investigation
Milner Police Captain Craig Walton also raised concerns about the mayor in his resignation letter and called for an independent investigation into Timmons' conduct.
"I sincerely hope that the residents of Milner and the members of the City Council will take these concerns seriously and pursue an independent investigation into the mayor's conduct, including any potential violations of his oath of office or the rights of city employees," Walton wrote.
Other police employees also cited disagreements with the mayor and City Council in explaining their decisions to resign.
The calls for an investigation reflect concerns raised by departing employees; they do not, by themselves, establish that the mayor violated the law or employees' rights.
Why did the other officers resign?
The resignations followed a period of disagreement between police employees and city leadership.
In addition to the allegations involving the tracking device, officials had clashed over police overtime and a proposal to prevent officers from using city vehicles while working part-time jobs.
However, the supplied reporting indicates those disputes were not identified as the reason for the resignations. Several employees instead pointed to broader disagreements with the mayor and City Council.
Grose's announcement confirmed that the departures extended beyond the chief to the department's entire full-time force and most of its reserve officers.
Mayor responds to resignations
Timmons acknowledged the concerns raised during the City Council meeting and said he hoped the situation could be resolved.
The resignations leave Milner facing the departure of its full-time police force and city manager.
What happens to police coverage in Milner?
Milner is a small city in Lamar County, about 45 miles southeast of Atlanta. Its police department had five full-time employees, including Bunn.
The Lamar County Sheriff's Office is expected to provide law enforcement coverage after the Milner officers leave, according to local reports.
Vanessa Johns is the Trending Topics Reporter for the Deep South Connect Team Georgia, covering food and entertainment. Email her at Vcountryman@gannett.com.
This article originally appeared on Savannah Morning News: What allegations against a Georgia mayor led police to resign?
