Chief: Veteran Savannah policeman fired from department
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SAVANNAH, Tenn. — The police chief in Savannah said he has terminated a sergeant from the town’s police force. Sgt. Tim Kelley was terminated for violating department policies, according to Police Chief Gary Will Jr. No criminal activity was involved, Will said. Will said Kelley had been with the department for 17 years, and someone will be promoted internally to take the sergeant’s role. Will declined to release details but said officers, especially at the rank of sergeant, should be held to higher standards. Savannah residents said they want to know why the sergeant was let go. “Since these are civil servants, they need to be open to the public and make us understand why they’re getting rid of the police officers,” Joseph Ross said. One man said he respects the chief’s decision to keep the details private for now. “If it’s nothing criminal, and it’s something like, say, personal or that type of thing I’m of the opinion that, you know, no, if it wasn’t something really, really major, no, keep it in the department,” Edward Stamp said. Those who want answers said knowing the truth is better than letting outsiders speculate. “Especially in a small community like this,” Ross said. “Everybody knows everybody, and then rumors start flying around and next thing you know, he got fired for this or that and nobody really knows the reason.” Will would not say if Kelley had been disciplined in the past. WBBJ 7 Eyewitness News tried to review his personnel file but were told by officials at city hall they want a consultant to review it first before making it available. They expect to release it next week. Will was hired as chief last November. He previously worked in South Dakota.
