All articles tagged with #town council
Cohutta, Georgia's town council reinstated the 10-officer police department and approved back pay after Mayor Ron Shinnick fired the force days earlier, while also barring firings for 30 days and delaying other business. The move followed internal disputes linked to complaints about the mayor’s wife, former town clerk Pam Shinnick, and potential charter violations; Whitfield County deputies will assist during the transition.
The Cohutta Town Council voted to reinstate the Cohutta Police Department after Mayor Ron Shinnick dissolved it, citing municipal charter requirements for 30 days’ notice and a stated reason before terminating an employee. They’re pursuing an emergency ordinance to prevent the mayor from disbanding the department without council action for 30 days, and patrols are to resume with the Whitfield County Sheriff’s Office handling calls in the interim. The meeting was tense, with the mayor leaving abruptly as the council moves to stabilize police services.
In Cohutta, Georgia, Mayor Ron Shinnick fired the chief and about 10 officers, dissolving the town’s police department. The town council called a special meeting to discuss reinstating the force and possibly the mayor’s resignation, with no public reasons given. The Whitfield County sheriff’s office offered help if needed, while the mayor cited officers’ social-media posts about his wife as the trigger, as residents seek answers and next steps.