A small Georgia town is set to lose its entire full-time police force after its chief accused the mayor of secretly placing a tracking device on his truck without authorisation. The allegation emerged publicly during a Milner City Council meeting on 19 October 2026, when officials announced multiple resignations amid a breakdown in trust with city leadership.
Police Chief Lamar Bunn and the department's four other full-time officers are scheduled to leave on 28 October. Most reserve officers have also resigned. City Manager Tausha Grose will leave on 30 October, raising questions about how the town of fewer than 1,000 residents will maintain police services.
The Lamar County Sheriff's Office is expected to provide law enforcement coverage, although specific arrangements have not been publicly confirmed.
Police Chief Accuses Mayor of Secretly Tracking His Vehicle
Bunn accused Mayor Craig Timmons of placing a tracking device on his truck without authorisation. He also raised concerns about surveillance cameras and officers being monitored without their knowledge.
According to The Herald Gazette, Bunn said the surveillance concerns had contributed to his loss of trust in city leadership. He maintained that he had not encouraged other officers to resign and doubted whether relations with city officials could be repaired.
Timmons declined to answer directly when asked whether he had placed the tracker on Bunn's vehicle. 'I had questions. No one expected all this (the resignations) to happen,' he told the newspaper. He added that some matters could not be discussed publicly.
The allegation remains unproven.
Available reporting does not independently establish who installed the device or whether any law was broken. Council member Ryan Lewis said he understood that the Georgia Bureau of Investigation was examining the matter. However, the agency's involvement has not been independently confirmed.
Entire Full-Time Police Force Set to Leave by 28 October
All five full-time officers have submitted their resignations, according to Atlanta News First. Most reserve officers have also resigned, leaving Milner facing a substantial reduction in its municipal police presence.
Grose announced her resignation during the 19 October council meeting. She attributed her decision to a breakdown in trust that had affected her ability to perform her duties. 'There is no trust. I have been rendered ineffective,' she told council members, according to The Herald Gazette.
The dispute extended beyond the tracking allegation. Officers raised concerns about city leadership, unpaid overtime and restrictions on outside employment.
According to CBS Atlanta, Grose said officers could continue working outside jobs but had temporarily been barred from using municipal vehicles for that work. Both Grose and Bunn identified lost trust as a central reason for leaving.
A resignation letter obtained by WSB-TV questioned decisions made by Timmons and certain council members. One officer raised concerns about an allegation that the mayor had used personal funds to purchase a tracking device for Bunn's truck. That claim has not been independently substantiated.
Who Will Police Milner After the Officers Leave?
Milner, in Lamar County, lies approximately 45 miles southeast of Atlanta. With fewer than 1,000 residents, the town faces the prospect of losing its full-time municipal police force within days.
The Lamar County Sheriff's Office is expected to provide law enforcement coverage after 28 October. However, available reports do not confirm specific patrol arrangements, staffing levels or whether additional resources will be assigned to Milner.
The resignations have also raised questions about the town's future as an incorporated municipality. Former council member Skip Seda said he would push for Milner to become unincorporated if it lost its police department and city manager.
Speaking to Atlanta News First, Seda questioned whether residents should continue paying municipal taxes without their own police force. His proposal remains a personal position, and no formal action to dissolve the municipality has been reported.
Can Milner Avoid Losing Its Police Department?
Despite the resignations, an agreement between the officers and city officials may still be possible before 28 October.
During the council meeting, Bunn indicated that he was open to resolving the disagreement. Timmons expressed surprise at the resignations, while The Herald Gazette reported indications that both sides might be willing to negotiate.
As of 23 October, available reports have not confirmed an agreement to withdraw the resignations. The police department's last scheduled day remains 28 October, with Grose due to leave two days later.
The immediate concern for residents is whether Milner can retain its officers or secure reliable county policing arrangements. Longer-term questions remain over city leadership, municipal oversight and the future of local government.
