BALDWIN, Ga. — The Baldwin City Council voted Monday to accept the resignation of Assistant Police Chief Justin Fargason following a lengthy executive session, with the mayor casting the deciding vote after the council split evenly.
Councilwoman Nancy Lehman was not present for the special called meeting, which was held in the Baldwin Municipal Courtroom.
The council spent more than an hour and a half in closed session discussing personnel matters before returning to open session. City Attorney Bubba Samuels then read a motion for the council to consider.
“The appropriate [action] is for a motion to be made to accept the voluntary resignation of Assistant Chief Justin Fargason, as he has presented it to us,” Samuels said.
Councilman Erik Keith made the motion, which was seconded by Councilwoman Kerri Davis.
Keith and Davis voted in favor of accepting the resignation. Councilmen Joe Elam and Mike Tope voted against the motion, creating a 2-2 tie. Mayor Doug Faust then cast the deciding vote in favor, allowing the motion to pass.
Council members cite agreement
Following the meeting, Elam and Tope told Now Georgia they could not discuss details surrounding the resignation, referencing an agreement now in place.
“Super cautious in the wording that I use, because the city is now in an agreement,” Elam said. “I was in favor of — and I might just want to leave it at that right now.”
Tope echoed that sentiment.
“Yeah, I mean, obviously we can’t go into the agreement,” Tope said. “There’s an agreement in place right now. But as for personally, just moral point of duty.”
Department rebuilding
Both councilmen said they believe the Baldwin Police Department will move forward under
its current leadership under Chief Chris Jones.
“We have a great chief, and I’m sure he’s going to build a great team,” Elam said. “I’m looking forward to our police department rebuilding and becoming stronger than it was before.”
Tope also expressed confidence in the department’s future.
“We have a great chief. The remaining officers are loyal — they’re amazing people,” he said. “I have faith that the people we bring in will continue to do what’s right for the city, have that loyalty to the citizens and build better.”
Resignations follow investigation
Monday’s action comes amid ongoing turmoil within the Baldwin Police Department.
Now Georgia previously reported that an investigation had begun involving city personnel and that sources said a majority of the department’s officers had resigned.
After Monday’s meeting, council members confirmed to Now Georgia that four Baldwin police officers resigned on the same day, backing up earlier reporting about the sudden departures within the department.
City officials did not release additional details Monday about the investigation or the circumstances surrounding the resignations.
Now Georgia will continue to follow this developing story.
