A council meeting is called in a small Georgia town whose mayor fired the entire police department

The jobs of the chief and about 10 officers were terminated as of Wednesday morning. Exact reasons haven’t been shared publicly, and townspeople are hoping to get some answers at Friday’s meeting.

Shinnick said he took action because of some comments officers posted on social media. The now-former Sgt. Jeremy May said it involved a complaint that he and other officers had raised about the mayor's wife, Pam Shinnick, who had served as the town clerk.

“This all comes to personal vendetta from the mayor, and I wholeheartedly believe that,” May told WRCB-TV. “We took a stand for transparency, and in result, every one of them has lost their jobs.”

The now-former Cohutta Police Chief Greg Fowler told WRCB that he couldn't comment in detail as the officers were clearing out the police department and removing equipment from the building this week. The mayor told the station he's not sure what will happen next.

Phone calls and emails left Friday for the mayor were not immediately returned.

Bryan Rayburn, the town's attorney, said in an email, “Mayor Shinnick and the Town Council remain committed to transparency, accountability, and the responsible administration of town business.”

Rayburn said he wouldn't have further statements but said that he believes the town's “operations and public services will continue without interruption, including Municipal Court.”

With no police officers working, the Whitfield County Sheriff's Office said in a brief statement that deputies will help the townspeople if they need it. Cohutta, just south of the Tennessee line, is about 100 miles (160 kilometers) northwest of Atlanta.

Multiple townspeople said Friday evening they were attempting to livestream the meeting on social media, but weak cell service in the area did not allow them to do so.