Entire full-time police department resigns in Milner amid dispute with city leaders

The City of Milner's entire full-time police department has submitted resignations, along with the city manager, who told council members Monday that a breakdown in trust had made her unable to do her job.

City Manager Tausha Grose announced the departures at the Oct. 19 City Council meeting. She said the police department's last day would be Oct. 28 and hers would be Oct. 30.

"The trust is gone. I have been rendered ineffective in my position," Grose said. "There is no trust."

The resignations include Police Chief Lamar Bunn and the department's full-time officers. Grose also said most of its part-time officers had resigned.

Both Grose and Bunn rejected the suggestion that a dispute over officers' outside work was the reason for their departures. Grose said officers could continue working part-time jobs but had temporarily been barred from using city vehicles for that work.

Bunn raised concerns about surveillance, saying officers could not trust that cameras or tracking devices would not be used without their knowledge.

"If I cannot do my job, if I'm not given an opportunity to do my job with character, I can't do it," he said.

Bunn said he had not asked other officers to resign with him and was not the first to submit his resignation.

Despite announcing his departure, he expressed interest in resolving the dispute before Oct. 28.

"So it's the trust issue. If it can be fixed, we need to fix it," Bunn said.

Mayor Craig Timmons told The Herald Gazette he had not expected the resignations. Asked whether he had placed a tracker on Bunn's vehicle, the mayor declined to comment directly, the newspaper reported. 

Grose, who said she had devoted six years to the city, described leaving as painful.

"It breaks my heart to have to resign," she said.

What happens after Milner's police officers leave?

The officer who spoke with CBS News Atlanta said officers gave the mayor and council time to work things out. The officer said they were hopeful, but it has not happened. The officer said most, if not all, of the officers will go to work for other agencies.

CBS News Atlanta was told Bunn is out of town with family and could not comment. CBS News Atlanta was not able to reach the mayor.

Former council member Skip Seda told the council he will push to unincorporate Milner if the city loses its police force.

Jennifer Holloway has worked at Red and White Food Store in Milner for five years. She said she knows most of the people who come into the store.

"I mean, I wish we could still have our police officers here, but I don't know what's going on over there," said Holloway.

Holloway said she is not worried about what happens after the officers leave.

"We have a nice little community, and the county will, you know, take over. If we have a problem. They'll be here quick," said Holloway.

The Milner City Council's next scheduled meeting is Nov. 16 at 6 p.m.