Ron Shinnick Dissolves Cohutta Ga Police Department, Fires 10

Cohutta Ga Mayor Ron Shinnick dissolved the town’s police department on Wednesday, May 6, and terminated all 10 police employees. A notice on the department’s door said, “The PD has been dissolved, and all personnel have been terminated.”

Ron Shinnick and Cohutta Police

The firings followed a dispute tied to Pam Shinnick, the mayor’s wife, after officers accused her of continuing to work for the town after council meeting minutes showed she had been terminated. Officers had also said she was contributing to a hostile work environment, and the police and the mayor had announced that they settled their differences in mediation before the department was dissolved.

Former Sgt. Steven Thornton said he was told the mayor still wanted the officers removed. “It was told to us, this is third hand information, that he told the acting town clerk that he still wanted us all fired, and it would happen,” Thornton said.

Whitfield County Takes Over

The Whitfield County Sheriff's Office stepped in to assume law enforcement services for the town, which has fewer than 1,000 residents. Shinnick said the change was not a punishment, telling reporters, “They’ll get a paycheck. We’re not that way, and I appreciate their service, okay? It is time for a change.”

Pressed on the decision, he added, “It’s a guy thing. You know, occasionally, college football programs, you have to change the coach, and some people like it, some don’t.”

Cohutta Council Meeting

The Cohutta Town Council scheduled a meeting for Friday, May 8, to discuss reinstating the department and requesting the mayor’s immediate resignation. For residents, the immediate shift is straightforward: town police are gone for now, county deputies are handling law enforcement, and the council is moving toward a vote on whether to bring the department back and whether Shinnick should remain in office.