Georgia Mayor Fires Entire Police Department Over Officers' Facebook Comments About His Wife

The mayor of Cohutta, Georgia, fired the town's entire police department Wednesday after officers made inappropriate comments about his wife on Facebook, leaving the 1,000-resident community without its own police force.

Mayor Ron Shinnick shut down the Cohutta Police Department and laid off all 10 employees, according to WDEF. By Wednesday morning, a sign on the department door read, "The PD has been dissolved, and all personnel have been terminated." It is unclear whether employees received prior notice or learned of the firings when they arrived at work.

The decision dismantled the town's law enforcement operation and prompted questions about leadership, possible retaliation and public safety.

"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 move.

The conflict traces back to last month, when officers filed formal complaints against Pat Shinnick, the former town clerk and mayor's wife. She had been fired for allegedly creating a hostile work environment. Officers claimed she continued working and retained access to personal information on the town's roughly 1,000 residents despite her dismissal.

After the complaints, Shinnick, Police Chief Greg Fowler and town attorney Brian Rayburn held a press conference. They said the matter was resolved through open dialogue and good-faith mediation.

One week later, the mayor disbanded the department.

"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."

The Whitfield County Sheriff’s Office said its deputies will cover law enforcement duties in the town for now.

A town meeting is set for Friday, May 8, to discuss reinstating the police department and a request for Mayor Shinnick’s immediate resignation. Shinnick and the town attorney did not immediately respond to requests for comment from Fox News Digital.