Trending Now - Mayor Dismisses Entire Police Force Following Family Dispute
WHO:
Fox News - Mayor Ron Shinnick of Cohutta, Georgia
ABC News US - Town council members of a small north Georgia community
WHAT:
The Guardian - The town council held an emergency meeting to vote to reinstate the police department after the mayor fired the chief and all officers.
WTVC - The jobs of the chief and about 10 officers were terminated as of Wednesday morning.
The Guardian - The notice for the meeting stated that the council would also consider a request for the mayor’s “immediate resignation,” but the rest of the meeting agenda was tabled.
The Guardian - Vice-mayor Shane Kornberg stated, “What we know is we had to make the best decision for the town.”
WTVC - The council announced that Mayor Shinnick had left the meeting and did not intend on returning.
ABC News US - The town council is considering a request for the mayor's “immediate resignation.”
The Guardian - A sign posted in the town announced that the police department had been dissolved “per mayor Ron Shinnick” and instructed residents to call a non-emergency county number for assistance.
WTVC - The town council voted to reinstate the police department that had been dissolved by Mayor Ron Shinnick.
WTVC - The council announced that the mayor had left the meeting and did not intend on returning.
The Guardian - The town council held an emergency meeting to vote to reinstate the police department after the mayor fired the chief and all officers.
The Guardian - A second emergency ordinance approved by the town council prohibits the mayor from disbanding the police department for the next 30 days.
The Guardian - The vote on the ordinance to reinstate the officers was unanimous.
Fox News - The entire police department was fired by Mayor Ron Shinnick.
IJR - "The PD has been dissolved, and all personnel have been terminated."
WHERE:
Fox News - Cohutta, Georgia
WHEN:
ABC News US - A special town council meeting is scheduled for "Friday evening" to discuss reinstating the police department.
WHY:
WTVC - The town's charter mandates that the mayor must alert the town council at least 30 days before an employee is let go and provide a clear reason for the termination.
The Guardian - Vice-mayor Shane Kornberg stated that the police department had not been legally disbanded and emphasized the need to reinstate it because the town charter was not followed.
Fox News - The firing occurred after officers made Facebook comments about the mayor's wife.
HOW:
WTVC - The meeting experienced technical issues, including a power outage at one point.
WTVC - The council entered an executive session to discuss legal parameters around the termination of the police department shortly after the meeting began.
The Guardian - Mayor Ron Shinnick voluntarily left the meeting after the city attorney stated that his actions did not follow the policies and procedures of the town charter.
IJR - The mayor's action involved the termination of all police personnel.
(UPDATED May 9, 2026 11:14 UTC)
In a dramatic turn of events, the town council convened an emergency meeting to vote on reinstating the police department after the mayor fired the chief and approximately ten officers. During the meeting, Vice-mayor Shane Kornberg emphasized the need to make the best decision for the town, while the council also considered a request for the mayor’s immediate resignation, although the rest of the agenda was tabled. Notably, Mayor Shinnick left the meeting and did not plan to return, and the session faced technical difficulties, including a power outage.
--
(UPDATED May 9, 2026 05:49 UTC)
The town council is currently considering a request for the immediate resignation of Mayor Ron Shinnick, who has already left the meeting and does not plan to return. In a surprising move, the council voted to reinstate the police department that Shinnick had dissolved, instructing residents to contact a non-emergency county number for assistance instead. This decision comes after the council entered an executive session to discuss the legalities surrounding the mayor's actions, which are in violation of the town's charter that requires a 30-day notice and a clear reason for any employee termination.
--
(UPDATED May 9, 2026 01:29 UTC)
In a dramatic turn of events, the town council held an emergency meeting to unanimously vote to reinstate the police department after Mayor Ron Shinnick fired the chief and all officers. Additionally, the council approved a second emergency ordinance that prevents the mayor from disbanding the police department for the next 30 days, with Vice-mayor Shane Kornberg highlighting that the department had not been legally disbanded. The mayor voluntarily left the meeting after the city attorney pointed out that his actions did not comply with the town charter's policies and procedures.
--
(UPDATED May 8, 2026 23:19 UTC)
In a surprising move, Mayor Ron Shinnick of Cohutta, Georgia, has dissolved the entire police department, terminating all personnel following controversial Facebook comments made by officers about the mayor's wife. Town council members are set to hold a special meeting on Friday evening to discuss the possibility of reinstating the police department. This drastic action has raised questions and concerns within the small north Georgia community.