DEMOREST, Ga. – A newly obtained resignation letter from a former Demorest Police sergeant paints a troubling picture of life inside the department, with the officer accusing city leaders of turning an internal investigation into a “witch hunt,” describing what he viewed as hostile treatment of an officer and openly questioning the future of the police department.
The two-page letter from Sgt. Steven Squires submitted the two-page letter on May 6, one day after Now Georgia reported that an independent investigation found a “toxic environment” among civilian employees inside the Demorest Police Department. Squires gave notice that his final day would be May 19.
The letter is taking on new significance four months later as turmoil continues around the department.
Assistant Police Chief James Minutello, a longtime Demorest officer, recently resigned to become an investigator with the Habersham County Sheriff’s Office. Chastain told Now Georgia another officer is also leaving.
“We have two currently leaving; no other notices are turned in. That is the assistant chief and an officer,” Chastain said.
Once those notices run out, Chastain said the department will be down two employees.
Turmoil between police department and City Hall
The departures come after months of questions surrounding working conditions at the police department and relationships between department leaders and Demorest City Hall.
The original city-authorized investigation documented fractured workplace relationships, communication failures and accusations of favoritism among the department’s civilian staff. One employee described the office as a “toxic environment,” while Minutello questioned whether some relationships had become “too fractured to fix.” The investigation did not substantiate allegations of inappropriate physical contact involving Chastain.
Squires’ resignation letter expanded the concerns beyond the civilian office.
He wrote that he believed the investigation was not properly conducted because not all department employees were interviewed. He alleged that after the initial investigation concluded, the process became a “witch hunt” in which command staff were given additional tasks and their response times scrutinized.
Squires wrote that the process appeared designed “to increase the documentation of failures” rather than improve the agency.
He also questioned whether what was happening inside the police department resembled events surrounding Demorest’s earlier consolidation of its fire department, writing that some around him had questioned whether there was “a possible motive for the police department’s future as well.”
Chief not blamed
Still, Squires did not blame Chastain for the turmoil.
He credited the chief with helping him grow professionally, including becoming an instructor, developing his public speaking skills and serving as the department’s training coordinator.
Squires instead devoted part of his resignation letter to an encounter he said involved one of his subordinate officers and city administration.
According to Squires, the officer responded after Habersham County dispatch received a 911 call about a suspicious person in a city park. Squires wrote that city management later criticized how the situation was handled and, during the disagreement, referred to the officer as a “clicking idiot.”
Squires called the treatment “hostile harassment” and wrote that he trusted the officer “with my life.”
The concerns did not disappear after Squires left.
Morale is a concern
In August, Now Georgia reported that emails between Musselwhite and Chastain revealed sharp exchanges over management responsibilities. Records also showed the city had spent $1,389.25 on professional mediation and related services. Former employees and anonymous complainants separately raised allegations about the working environment within city government, although those allegations do not by themselves establish misconduct.
Then came Minutello’s departure.
The assistant chief, who served Demorest for more than a decade and participated in the original investigation, announced he was leaving to join former Demorest Police Chief and current Habersham County Sheriff Robin Krockum at the sheriff’s office.
Chastain acknowledged morale is now a concern, although he said the staffing losses have not yet affected employees’ time off. The department has received applications, he said, but none within the past several weeks.
“I am working with everyone and doing all I can do to better the city and the police department for our citizens,” Chastain said.
Now Georgia emailed Demorest Mayor Jerry Harkness and City Manager Mark Musselwhite seeking comment on the latest departures and the concerns raised in Squires’ resignation letter.
Neither responded as of this article’s publication.
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