Chief: Savannah police officer fell asleep on job, missed emergency calls
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SAVANNAH, Tenn. — Just one week after a 17-year veteran police officer is fired, documents are released showing why Chief Gary Will made the decision. Will said Sgt. Tim Kelley did not put citizens first. “He missed two calls. One domestic and the other one a woman who had fallen during the night and couldn’t get to the phone to call for help,” Will said. He said Kelley had driven to a relative’s business in town to take a nap. While there, documents state Kelley did not answer his radio, cell phone or the door to the business when officers knocked. The chief said it is something extremely rare at police departments and is not taken lightly. “Someone outside the building heard her hollering for help and called, so we needed an officer there while the other officers were tied up on the domestic he missed,” Will said. Many residents agreed, saying they want to know officers will be there if they need help. “If you’re on the job, you need to be focused on what you’re doing,” Scarlette Bizzell said. “Somebody’s life could be at stake because you’ve messed up.” Will said Kelley was cited for five different departmental policy violations, including leaving a loaded firearm — evidence from a case — on his office floor. The chief said it sat there untouched for more than six months. “Those safety violations were so great, I just couldn’t overlook those,” Will said. “It’s not a personal decision. It’s a business decision of what’s in the best interest of the department and the community.” The chief said these violations do not warrant criminal charges. He said Kelley appealed his firing to the city manager Wednesday. The chief said he is unsure of how long it will be before city leaders release their decision.
