Resignations of Milner Police Department go into effect

ShareAdd Us On GoogleAdd as a preferred source on GoogleATLANTA, Ga. (Atlanta News First) — Chris Landers had hoped to spend the rest of his law enforcement career in Milner. But Wednesday, the assistant police chief turned in his badge for the last time.Nearly all of the Milner Police Department’s vehicles were parked outside City Hall Wednesday afternoon as Landers packed his belongings and prepared to leave.“It’s disappointing. It’s not anything any of us wanted,” Landers said.Landers is one of five full-time officers who resigned, along with the police chief and city manager, amid allegations that the mayor placed a tracking device on the police chief’s vehicle and a camera facing City Hall.RELATED: Georgia city’s entire police force resignsLanders said he did not want to continue working in an environment where he felt he could not trust the leadership above him.“I don’t want to come to a job where I don’t have trust in the leadership above me, where everything I’m doing is being micromanaged or overtly scrutinized,” Landers said.During a special-called meeting Tuesday night, the City Council censured the mayor over the placement of the devices, which council members said violated protocol.RELATED: Milner city council confirms allegations that led to resignation of entire police force“If the mayor had questions, he should’ve gone to our city manager and our council, and if he didn’t have faith in them, he should’ve gone to our city attorney,” Landers said.Landers said he does not object to having a camera at City Hall but questioned its effectiveness, saying his work as a police officer does not revolve around the building.“It’s disappointing that he believes that just because I’m not in this parking lot, I’m not working,” Landers said.“I’m not confined to this office. That’s why I have a take-home car,” he said.As for the department’s future, Landers said the City Council voted Tuesday night to begin searching for another police chief.“Last night they voted to try to hire another police chief, to search for one. For the sake of the citizens, I hope they get that,” Landers said.Landers has turned in his badge but said he plans to continue working in law enforcement elsewhere.“Is this a sad day for Milner? I think so, because we had a really good team of officers,” he said.One reserve officer remains with the department. That officer also serves as the Lamar County coroner.Atlanta News First has reached out to Mayor Craig Timmons, but has not heard back.Copyright 2026 WANF. All rights reserved.ATLANTA, Ga. (Atlanta News First) — Chris Landers had hoped to spend the rest of his law enforcement career in Milner. But Wednesday, the assistant police chief turned in his badge for the last time.Nearly all of the Milner Police Department’s vehicles were parked outside City Hall Wednesday afternoon as Landers packed his belongings and prepared to leave.“It’s disappointing. It’s not anything any of us wanted,” Landers said.Landers is one of five full-time officers who resigned, along with the police chief and city manager, amid allegations that the mayor placed a tracking device on the police chief’s vehicle and a camera facing City Hall.RELATED: Georgia city’s entire police force resignsLanders said he did not want to continue working in an environment where he felt he could not trust the leadership above him.“I don’t want to come to a job where I don’t have trust in the leadership above me, where everything I’m doing is being micromanaged or overtly scrutinized,” Landers said.During a special-called meeting Tuesday night, the City Council censured the mayor over the placement of the devices, which council members said violated protocol.RELATED: Milner city council confirms allegations that led to resignation of entire police force“If the mayor had questions, he should’ve gone to our city manager and our council, and if he didn’t have faith in them, he should’ve gone to our city attorney,” Landers said.Landers said he does not object to having a camera at City Hall but questioned its effectiveness, saying his work as a police officer does not revolve around the building.“It’s disappointing that he believes that just because I’m not in this parking lot, I’m not working,” Landers said.“I’m not confined to this office. That’s why I have a take-home car,” he said.As for the department’s future, Landers said the City Council voted Tuesday night to begin searching for another police chief.“Last night they voted to try to hire another police chief, to search for one. For the sake of the citizens, I hope they get that,” Landers said.Landers has turned in his badge but said he plans to continue working in law enforcement elsewhere.“Is this a sad day for Milner? I think so, because we had a really good team of officers,” he said.One reserve officer remains with the department. That officer also serves as the Lamar County coroner.Atlanta News First has reached out to Mayor Craig Timmons, but has not heard back.