Cohutta Georgia police crisis: Mayor fires entire force, council reinstates officers. Mayor voluntarily leaves meeting. A small Georgia mountain town of about 930 people is in the midst of a Cohutta Georgia police crisis after the mayor fired the police chief and all officers, then voluntarily left an emergency council meeting where officials voted to reinstate the entire department. The town council held an emergency session Friday night.
📋 Key facts from the Cohutta Georgia police crisis
- Emergency meeting: Friday evening, Cohutta town council voted to reinstate police department.
- What happened: Mayor Ron Shinnick fired police chief and all officers (about 10) as of Wednesday morning.
- Sign posted: “Police department dissolved per mayor Ron Shinnick” – residents told to call non‑emergency county number.
- Council action: Unanimous vote to reinstate officers; second ordinance bans mayor from disbanding police for 30 days.
- Mayor’s exit: After city attorney’s opening statement, Shinnick voluntarily left; vice‑mayor Shane Kornberg assumed role.
- City attorney Bryan Rayburn: Mayor’s actions did not follow town charter policies.
- Vice‑mayor Kornberg: “We needed to reinstate because our charter was not followed.”
- Reasons cited: Mayor said social media comments; former sergeant Jeremy May says it was a complaint about mayor’s wife (town clerk) – “personal vendetta.”
- Lawyer Ken David: “Glad the City Council did the right thing tonight.”
- Current status: Former chief Greg Fowler couldn’t comment as officers cleared out equipment; mayor “not sure what would happen next.”
The notice outside of the Cohutta town hall had also asked for the mayor’s “immediate resignation.” But any action against Mayor Ron Shinnick was tabled. The council then voted unanimously to pass an ordinance reinstating the officers.
A second ordinance, now in effect, prevents the mayor from disbanding the police department for the next 30 days. City attorney Bryan Rayburn said in an opening statement the mayor’s actions were not in line with policies and procedures in the town charter.
The Cohutta Georgia police controversy was sparked by the mayor’s statement on social media and the sergeant’s claim of a “vendetta”.
Timeline of the Cohutta Georgia police crisis
Wednesday morning: Mayor fires police chief and ~10 officers. Sign posted: police department dissolved.
Days before Friday: Residents directed to call county non‑emergency number. Townspeople await answers.
Friday evening: Emergency council meeting. City attorney says mayor violated charter. Mayor voluntarily leaves. Vice‑mayor Kornberg assumes role.
Friday vote: Council unanimously reinstates police department. Passes 30‑day ban on mayor disbanding police again.
The Cohutta Georgia police crisis started Wednesday morning when Mayor Ron Shinnick fired the police chief and about 10 officers. A sign posted days before said the police department had been dissolved “per mayor Ron Shinnick,” and told residents to call a non-emergency county number for help.
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The reasons for the firings have not been made public, but Shinnick said he acted because of comments officers posted on social media. Former police sergeant Jeremy May gave another explanation. May told local news outlet WRCB that he and other officers had filed a complaint about the mayor’s wife, Pam Shinnick, who was the town clerk. “This is all about a personal vendetta on the part of the mayor, and I believe that wholeheartedly,” May said. “We stood for transparency, and as a result, all of them lost their jobs.”
Council’s Response to the Crisis of Charter Violation and Reinstatement of the Cohutta Georgia Police
Mayor Shinnick voluntarily left the meeting after city attorney Bryan Rayburn’s opening statement. For the rest, vice-mayor Shane Kornberg became the new mayor. “I don’t think the police department was legally disbanded,” Kornberg said.
The vote was unanimous in reinstating the officers. “What we know is we had to make the best decision for the town,” said Kornberg. “We had to bring the police department back because our charter wasn’t being honored.” “The City Council did the right thing tonight,” Ken David, an attorney for several police officers, told the Chattanooga Times. The council also put off any further measures against the mayor, including calls for his immediate resignation.
In the meantime, former Police Chief Greg Fowler told WRCB he could not comment in detail as officers were clearing out the police department and removing equipment from the building. “I don’t know what happens next,” Mayor Shinnick told the station. The crisis has rocked the tiny mountain community and the police force is back, for now.
📅 What’s next after the Cohutta Georgia police crisis?
The 30‑day prohibition on the mayor dissolving the police department is in effect. The council tabled any resignation request. Officers have been reinstated, but the underlying dispute over the mayor’s wife and social media comments remains unresolved. More meetings are likely.
