A small Georgia town is facing a major leadership shake-up after its entire full-time police department and city manager resigned, officials disclosed during a city council meeting Monday.
Tausha Grose, the city manager of Milner, Georgia, told council members that every full-time police officer had left the department, along with most of its part-time volunteer officers. Grose then announced that she, too, had submitted her resignation.
“It is with extreme sorrow that our entire full-time police department has resigned, along with most of our part-time police officers,” Grose said. “I also filed my resignation with the city clerk today.”
A Milner Police Department SUV is shown in Georgia. The town’s full-time police force resigned after officers voiced concerns about city leadership, including allegations of unethical behavior. (Milner Police Department)
Milner Police Chief Lamar Bunn alleged that city officials secretly installed a tracking device on his truck. He said the tracker was purchased with personal funds and placed on the vehicle without the knowledge of the city council, his supervisor or the city administrator. Bunn also said he was wrongly accused of having an affair with the city manager.
“Every day at City Hall, there’s a tracker on my truck,” Bunn said during the meeting. “It was bought with personal funds and placed on my vehicle without the city council, my supervisor or the city administrator knowing about it.” Despite his concerns, Bunn said he had hoped to find a reason to remain in Milner because of his longstanding ties to Lamar County. “I’ve devoted my life to Lamar County—15 or 16 years with the sheriff’s office, and now I’m back here,” he said. “My dad was policing here in 1974. I have roots here.”
Milner Police Department members gather for a community event in Georgia. The town’s full-time police force recently resigned amid accusations of misconduct involving city leadership. (Milner Police Department)
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Mayor Craig Timmons acknowledged the officers’ concerns and said he hoped the dispute could be resolved. City officials and the police department had previously clashed over overtime and a proposal that would have prohibited officers from using city vehicles for outside part-time work, but those issues were not identified as the direct cause of the resignations.
In resignation letters obtained by News Media, Bunn said his decision followed ongoing disagreements with city leadership over legal and ethical matters.
“I have determined that stepping down at this time is in my best interest because of fundamental differences involving leadership, governance and ethical alignment,” Bunn wrote. “Recent actions and decisions by city leadership—particularly those involving legal compliance, ethical standards and core values—have compromised my ability to carry out my duties with integrity.”
Other full-time department employees expressed similar concerns. In his own resignation letter, Milner Police Captain Craig Walton called for an investigation into Timmons.
“I sincerely hope Milner residents and City Council members will take these concerns seriously and pursue an independent investigation into the mayor’s conduct,” Walton wrote, including any possible violations of his oath of office or the rights of city employees.
A water tower rises over Milner, Georgia, where the full-time police force and city manager resigned amid a dispute with municipal leadership. (City of Milner)
Several other police employees likewise cited conflicts with the mayor and city council when explaining their resignations.
News Media contacted Timmons for comment.