SHEILA A. MATHEWS ::: A federal racial discrimination law suit filed Jan. 9, 2015, by Dwayne Jones and Terry Brock against the city of Griffin and Griffin City Manager Kenny Smith is under appeal after a summary judgment was issued after the court determined the plaintiffs “failed to establish a genuine issue of material fact […]
Federal racial discrimination lawsuit against city of Griffin, City Manager Kenny Smith closed
Filed Under: Top Stories Tagged With: City Manager Kenny Smith, Dwayne Jones, EEOC, federal racial disrimination lawsuit, Griffin, Griffin Police Department, restructuring, spalding county, Terry Brock, Title VII
City of Griffin and City Manager Kenny Smith sued for alleged civil rights violations
SHEILA A. MATHEWS ::: The city of Griffin and City Manager Kenny Smith have been served with a civil lawsuit alleging the civil rights of two former employees were violated. The suit pertains to the 2014 restructuring of the Griffin Police Department which resulted in the elimination of two positions – those of Maj. Terry […]
Filed Under: Top Stories Tagged With: budget cuts, Captain Dwayne Jones, City Manager, Civil Rights violation, Griffin, Griffin Police Department, Kenny Smith, lawsuit, Major Terry Brock, restructuring, spalding county, Title VII
Griffin city manager to name new GPD chief this week
SHEILA MATHEWS ::: Griffin City Manager Kenny Smith has selected a candidate to head up the Griffin Police Department and said he will release a formal statement naming the new chief-of-police this week. “I’m in the process of naming a chief. If not tomorrow, then Thursday,” Smith said. “It will probably be Thursday.” Upon the […]
Filed Under: Top Stories Tagged With: Chief, City Manager, Griffin, Griffin Police Department, Kenny Smith, restructuring
City denies GPD racial discrimination allegation in “strongest possible terms”
SHEILA MATHEWS ::: Two former officers of the Griffin Police Department – Dwayne Jones and Terry Brock – have retained legal counsel and allege city officials wrongfully terminated their employment based on racial discrimination. Both long-term employees of the city of Griffin, their employment was terminated Jan. 31 as part of the GPD restructuring recommended […]
Filed Under: Top Stories Tagged With: court, demands, Dwayne Jones, EEOC, Griffin Police Department, Kenny Smith, lawsuit, racial discrimination, restructuring, settlement, Terry Brock
Attorney on GPD restructuring: the only men left standing were black
SHEILA MATHEWS ::: Attorneys representing two former officers of the Griffin Police Department have issued a letter of demand to city officials, alleging the recent GPD restructuring illegally resulted in their clients’ termination of employment based on racial discrimination. The Grip has obtained a copy of the letter submitted to City Manager Kenny Smith from […]
Filed Under: Top Stories Tagged With: attorney, black, demands, descrimination, Dwayne Jones, EEOC, GPD, Griffin, Griffin Police Department, lawsuit, lawyer, letter, racism, restructuring, Terry Brock, white
Deeper PD cuts were suggested by other municipalities’ chiefs
SHEILA A. MATHEWS ::: With the recent restructuring of the Griffin Police Department, manpower needs have come to the forefront of discussions among residents, but local officials have been considering the issue for a number of years. Determination of manpower needs Prior to the restructuring, City Manager Kenny Smith provided commissioners with data comparing Griffin’s […]
Filed Under: Top Stories Tagged With: City Manager, comparison, cuts, eliminations, Griffin, investigators, Kenny Smith, manpower, Officers, patrol, Police Department, positions, restructuring, turnover
Projected savings of Police Department restructuring examined
SHEILA MATHEWS ::: The Griffin Police Department restructuring plan proposed by City Manager Kenny Smith as a cost-saving measure has been approved by the Board of Commissioners. The plan, which calls for the elimination of several high-ranking officers’ positions, has sparked citizen outrage and outspoken commentary, with many wondering whether the savings justify the […]
Filed Under: Top Stories Tagged With: Dwayne Jones, Frank Strickland, Griffin Police Department, Kenny Smith, restructuring
Griffin Police: Departmental culture, ineffectiveness cited as significant issues necessitating restructuring
SHEILA MATHEWS ::: Ineffectiveness at the Griffin Police Department – this is what some Griffin commissioners are now citing as the driving force behind their support of a proposed restructuring plan that is scheduled to be voted upon at 6 p.m. Tuesday. “It’s not so much about immediate savings; it’s future savings. It’s about the […]
Filed Under: Top Stories Tagged With: Capt. Dwayne Jones, City Manager, cuts, Cynthia Reid-Ward, Dick Morrow, Doug Hollberg, eliminations, Griffin, Kenny Smith, Officers, PD, Police, positions, restructuring
The GRIP 