Full Breakdown
Milner, Georgia Police Department and City Manager Resign Amid Trust Dispute
By Drooid · · How we work
Core Event
At a city-council meeting on Monday, Milner’s city manager and the entire full-time police force announced their resignations. City manager Tausha Grose said she could no longer perform her duties because “the trust is gone.” Police chief Lamar Bunn and all five full-time officers, along with most reserve officers, also resigned, citing concerns over surveillance and a breakdown in confidence with municipal leadership.
Background & Context
Milner, a town of fewer than 1,000 residents 45 miles south of Atlanta, is required by charter to maintain a police department; without one, the Lamar County Sheriff’s Office must provide law-enforcement services. Tensions centered on a proposal to bar officers from using city vehicles for part-time work and allegations that a tracking device had been placed on Chief Bunn’s personal truck without his knowledge.
Data & Statistics
- Police personnel: 5 full-time officers, multiple reserves
- Resignations announced: city manager, police chief, all full-time officers, most reserves
Official Statements & Responses
- Tausha Grose said a loss of trust rendered her “ineffective” and that she will stay until the end of October to aid transition.
- Mayor Craig Timmons declined to comment on the tracker allegation.
- Police Captain Craig Walton called for an independent investigation into the mayor’s conduct.
Criticism & Opposition
Former council member Skip Seda warned the city could become unincorporated if it loses its police force, emphasizing community anxiety about governance after October.
On-the-Ground Reports
Residents expressed mixed feelings. Jennifer Holloway, a local store employee, hopes the county will step in quickly. Skip Seda noted council members wanted verification of the tracker claim and warned that “on the day after Oct. 30, nobody’s running this city.”
Conflicting Reports & Gaps
Sources agree the resignations were not triggered by an overtime dispute, but differ on verification of the tracker allegation. No investigation results have been reported, and details about how the sheriff’s office will assume policing duties remain unclear.
Verbatim Quotes
- “It is with my extreme sorrow that our entire full-time police department has resigned, most of our part-time police. And also, I've also filed my resignation with the city clerk today,” — Tausha Grose
- “City Hall every day, it's got a tracker on my truck, it was bought with personal funds and placed on my vehicle without the city council or my supervisor, city administrator knowing it,” — Lamar Bunn
- “I think the city’s basically doomed. I really do, and I hate that,” — Skip Seda
Why It Matters / Impact
The mass resignation leaves Milner without its own police force, threatening public safety and municipal operations. The charter may force a vote on unincorporation, shifting all services to the county. The dispute underscores challenges small municipalities face when trust between elected officials and staff erodes.
What’s Next
An independent investigation into the mayor’s conduct is being considered. In the interim, the Lamar County Sheriff’s Office is expected to provide coverage, and community leaders are discussing unincorporation if a permanent police solution does not materialize.