The entire full-time police force in Milner, Georgia, has resigned. Police Chief Lamar Bunn, the department's five full-time officers and several reserve officers announced their resignations at this week's city council meeting on Monday, October 19, along with City Manager Tausha Grose, Officer.com and Police1 reported, citing WSB-TV, WUPA-TV and FOX 5 Atlanta. The last day for Bunn and his officers is set for October 28, and Grose's last day will be October 30.

Source: Officer.com

“The trust is gone. I have been rendered ineffective in my position. There is no trust,” Grose said. Bunn said: “If I cannot do my job, if I'm not given an opportunity to do my job with character, I can't do it.”

Source: Police1

5full-time officers resigned
Oct 28department's last day
772town population (2020 census)

At the centre of the dispute is an allegation — not independently substantiated — that Mayor Craig Timmons placed a tracking device on Bunn's personal vehicle. A resignation letter obtained by WSB-TV said at least one officer was frustrated by an incident in which Timmons allegedly used his own money to buy a vehicle tracker and install it on Bunn's vehicle, and also cited the department's policy on off-duty employment. Bunn told WSB-TV he had consulted an outside agency about whether placing a tracker on his vehicle violated the law or his rights, and said Timmons had asked him for the tracker back in front of multiple people. Bunn said he did not object to tracking if it was done properly.

Timmons said he had no comment when the tracker issue was raised at Monday's meeting, and he had not responded to WSB-TV's attempts to reach him as of October 21, Police1 reported. Other officers expressed support for Bunn and concerns about the judgment and decision-making of the mayor and certain council members in their resignation letters. Bunn said he was not the first department member to resign, that he did not ask other officers to step down, and that he still hoped the trust could be fixed before his last day.

Milner, in Lamar County about 45 miles southeast of Atlanta, had a population of 772 at the 2020 census. If there is no resolution, the Lamar County Sheriff's Office is expected to provide law enforcement coverage for the town after the department closes.