Georgia Mayor Dismisses Entire Police Force Following Controversy Over Officers’ Complaints Against His Wife

The mayor of a small town in Georgia made the drastic decision to disband the entire police department on Wednesday. This move came after officers allegedly posted “inappropriate comments” about his wife on Facebook, effectively leaving the town without its own law enforcement.

Cohutta Mayor Ron Shinnick took the decisive step of closing down the Cohutta Police Department, resulting in the termination of all 10 employees, as reported by WDEF.

A notice appeared on the department’s door by Wednesday morning, stating, “The PD has been dissolved, and all personnel have been terminated.”

It remains unclear whether the employees were informed of this decision before the sign went up or if they discovered the news upon arriving at work that day.

This sweeping action occurred just a week after the police officers and the mayor had reportedly addressed their differences through “open dialogue and good-faith mediation.” (WZTV / Tom Williams/CQ Roll Call)

The move effectively dismantled the town’s entire law enforcement operation, raising questions about leadership, potential retaliation and public safety in the roughly 1,000-person community.

“They’ll get a paycheck. We’re not that way, and I appreciate their service, okay? It is time for a change,” Shinnick said when asked about the decision.

The dispute appears to stem from last month, when officers filed formal complaints against former town clerk Pat Shinnick, the mayor’s wife.

A neighboring town’s police force will be stepping in while the entire Cohutta Police Department was fired. (Getty Images)

Pat Shinnick was fired from her position for allegedly creating a “hostile work environment.” According to the officers’ complaints, despite her firing, she was still working and continued to have access to personal information of the town’s 1,000 residents.

Following the complaints, Shinnick, Police Chief Greg Fowler and town attorney Brian Rayburn said during a press conference that the situation had been resolved using “open dialogue and good-faith mediation.”

One week later, the entire department was disbanded.

Following the police department’s firing, the town has scheduled an emergency meeting on Friday. (Getty Images)

“This all comes to personal vendetta from the mayor, and I wholeheartedly believe that,” former Sgt. Jeremy May told WRCB-TV. “We took a stand for transparency, and in result, every one of them has lost their jobs.”

While the town is currently operating without a police department, the Whitfield County Sheriff’s Office said its deputies will take over law enforcement duties.

A town meeting is scheduled for Friday, May 8, with topics including reinstating the police department and a request for Mayor Shinnick’s immediate resignation.

Shinnick and the town’s attorney did not immediately respond to Fox News Digital’s request for comment.