A mayor in a small north Georgia town has resigned amid fallout from his firing of the entire police force following a dispute involving his wife.
A town spokeswoman told NTD via phone on Wednesday that Ron Shinnick, who served as mayor of Cohutta since 2014, resigned on Friday.
Announcing his departure, Shinnick, 70, cited family health concerns for his decision to step down, calling his role "one of the greatest honors" of his life.
"This decision was not made lightly, but I believe it is in the best interest of both the Town and myself at this time," he added. "I am confident that the Town will continue to thrive under new leadership."
Shinnick's resignation comes weeks after he dissolved the Cohutta Police Department following months of internal tensions. His wife, Pam Shinnick, was allegedly fired from her position as town clerk in January after employees accused her of creating a hostile work environment, WTVC reported. In April, police officials raised concerns that she had allegedly retained access to sensitive databases after her termination, the news outlet said.
The situation came to a head on May 6 when a notice posted on the door of the police station stated that the force had been disbanded that morning and that all personnel—including police chief Greg Fowler and about a dozen officers—had been terminated. Residents were directed to contact the Whitfield County non-emergency line if they needed assistance.
In a subsequent statement, Whitfield County Sheriff Darren Pierce confirmed that his office had assumed law enforcement services for the town, saying the transition would ensure those living in Cohutta would still get help from law enforcement personnel.
"This will not affect the residents of the city of Cohutta, nor will it affect response times to emergency calls," Pierce said.
At a May 8 meeting, Cohutta council members unanimously voted to reinstate the town's police officers with back pay.
"I think what was showed tonight was that the council stood up for what the charter stands for," Bryan Rayburn, Cohutta's town attorney, told WDEF News 12 after the session. "And it was brought to light that the mayor didn't follow the procedures that he needed to and the council took corrective action."
According to a statement posted on the town's website, council members will announce plans for an interim mayor and the process for selecting a candidate to finish out Shinnick's term during a scheduled meeting Wednesday night.