The Ludowici City Council voted during a Feb. 3 special meeting to rehire former Police Chief Richard Robertson.
At the Jan. 12 meeting, the council heard several Long County residents claim the police department was harassing residents and Robertson was allowing it. After the meeting, Robertson resigned his position and the council accepted his resignation on Jan. 14. Robertson’s last day was Jan. 26.
The council then called the Feb. 3 meeting. First, council members went into executive session. Afterward, Councilman Frank McClelland Jr. made a motion to rehire Robertson. Councilwoman Gwendolyn Davis seconded it. The motion passed 3-1 when Councilman A.A. Billings voted in favor.
The only member opposed to rehiring Robertson was councilman Jim Fuller, who at the Jan. 12 meeting made accusations that Robertson and the police department had harassed his family and friends. Robertson denied this claim.
After Robertson was rehired, McClelland said, “There will be no more buffering between the officers and the chief, and all issues will go directly to the chief.”
On Feb. 9, the council had its regular monthly meeting, and the matter appeared to be resolved.
After the meeting, McClelland said, “This has been a challenging issue for the city, but it is time for it to be over with. We have good people in the city, a good police department and a good chief. Sometimes things like this come up and you have to work through it. It’s time to move on, and put all of this behind us.”
At the Jan. 12 meeting, the council heard several Long County residents claim the police department was harassing residents and Robertson was allowing it. After the meeting, Robertson resigned his position and the council accepted his resignation on Jan. 14. Robertson’s last day was Jan. 26.
The council then called the Feb. 3 meeting. First, council members went into executive session. Afterward, Councilman Frank McClelland Jr. made a motion to rehire Robertson. Councilwoman Gwendolyn Davis seconded it. The motion passed 3-1 when Councilman A.A. Billings voted in favor.
The only member opposed to rehiring Robertson was councilman Jim Fuller, who at the Jan. 12 meeting made accusations that Robertson and the police department had harassed his family and friends. Robertson denied this claim.
After Robertson was rehired, McClelland said, “There will be no more buffering between the officers and the chief, and all issues will go directly to the chief.”
On Feb. 9, the council had its regular monthly meeting, and the matter appeared to be resolved.
After the meeting, McClelland said, “This has been a challenging issue for the city, but it is time for it to be over with. We have good people in the city, a good police department and a good chief. Sometimes things like this come up and you have to work through it. It’s time to move on, and put all of this behind us.”