The mayor of a town in Georgia fired the entire police department after a dispute involving his wife.
Cohutta Mayor Ron Shinnick shut down the town's law enforcement on Wednesday after what he described as 'inappropriate' comments from officers.
Mayor Shinnick's wife Pam was fired earlier this year from her role as the town's former clerk after allegedly causing a 'hostile work environment'.
A number of police officers had filed letters of complaint against her and were part of the reason why she was fired, according to Local 3 News.
The outlet spoke with former Police Chief Greg Fowler who said that town officials were not briefed on the decision prior to the announcement.
He confirmed that he was having the department building cleared out as equipment was seen being removed and loaded into vehicles.
Town attorney Bryan Rayburn told the outlet that he had reassured officers just days beforehand that their jobs were secure.
Mayor Ron Shinnick, seen here, shut down the towns law enforcement on Wednesday after what he described as 'inappropriate' comments from officers
Former Police Chief Greg Fowler who said that town officials were not briefed on the decision prior to the announcement
The attorney said the officers were concerned that their letters about a 'hostile' work environment would be the reason behind their firing.
'My understanding is that a lot of the police officers heard through the grapevine that they were going to be terminated because of the letters that they wrote,' he said.
'I don't think them exercising their First Amendment right and filing complaints is a valid reason to fire anybody.'
Former Sgt. Jeremy May, who was fired on Wednesday, described the move as being a 'personal vendetta'.
He told the outlet: 'The citizens and the constituents of Cohutta are going to suffer in response because of the retaliation from the mayor, due to the fact that we brought to light about his spouse still working after she was terminated.
'This all comes to personal vendetta from the mayor, and I wholeheartedly believe that.
'Can a department that’s already limited being the sheriff’s office pick up an entire area that a full-time department was doing on top of what they were normally doing?
'That’s going to be the safety and security of the citizens, and the constituents of Cohutta is going to suffer in response because of the retaliation from the mayor.'
Mayor Shinnick's wife Pam was fired earlier this year from her role as the town's former clerk after allegedly causing a 'hostile work environment', the two are seen here together
A notice on the door of the former police department, seen here, urged anyone in need to contact the Whitfield County Sheriff's Office
In a statement, the Whitfield County Sheriff's Office said they would take charge of the town.
Sheriff Darren J. Pierce said: 'As Sheriff and Chief Law Enforcement Officer of Whitfield County, it is my sworn duty to provide law enforcement services and protection to everyone in our community.
'As a result, effective immediately, my office will assume law enforcement services for the City of Cohutta.
'This transition ensures that those who live in the Cohutta City limits will still receive assistance from law enforcement personnel should they need it.
'This will not affect the residents of the city of Cohutta, nor will it affect response times to emergency calls.'
Due to the decision to shut down the department, the town council is to hold a meeting on Friday to oust Mayor Shinnick and reinstate the department.