Chief named Dalton administrator

Dalton Police Chief Jason Parker is approved by a unanimous vote.

DALTON — Dalton Police Chief Jason Parker was approved as the city’s administrator Tuesday night by a unanimous vote of the City Council. He said he may start in his new role in two weeks.

Parker was one of two finalists out of about 80 applications. Patrick Comiskey, the former city manager of Thomaston, was the other finalist. Ty Ross resigned from the position in September 2016 after almost seven years on the job.

“We had a lot of candidates and did lots of interviews,” said council member Denise Wood. “We even included Annalee (Harlan) after she was elected.”

Harlan, who was sworn in as a council member earlier in the evening, was elected in November to the Ward 2 seat previously held by Tate O’Gwin, who did not seek re-election.

Mayor Dennis Mock, who typically votes only when there is a tie, also voted to approve Parker as administrator.

Wood said council members were looking for “trust, honesty and integrity. I think I speak for everyone when I say Jason embodies that.”

Parker, a 30-year-veteran of the police department who has been chief since 2007, said he expects the Public Safety Commission to appoint an interim police chief before he assumes the city administrator position.

“I’m really excited about the opportunity,” Parker said. “It’s going to be a challenging role, but I’m thankful to have the opportunity for that challenge.”

Parker said he realizes he has a lot to learn about the other city departments’ operations and functions, but he’s looking forward to it. He said he will miss the law enforcement arena.

“I’ve been in policing 35 years and it’s a profession that I really love,” he said. “It does a lot of good in the community.”

Dalton Daily News

Attorney provides details on fatal officer-involved shooting

LaFAYETTE — The attorney for a woman whose father was shot and killed by a Walker County deputy says a 911 call that set the stage for the incident came from the woman’s mother-in-law.

In the early morning hours of New Year’s Day, a woman called 911, saying that a female at a residence at 147 Meadowview Lane in Rossville was threatening to kill herself and her children, according to the GBI, which is investigating the fatal incident.

Attorney Larry Stagg of Ringgold says the caller was the motherin-law to Amy Gass. Amy was one of several family members inside the residence when three Walker County deputies arrived to check out the caller’s story.

The deputies knocked and announced their arrival, which prompted Amy’s father, 65-yearold Mark Parkinson, to grab a gun and check out the commotion.

The deputies spotted Parkinson in the kitchen, and one of the deputies, John Chandler, shot and killed him.

According to Stagg, who is representing Amy in her divorce from estranged husband Steven Gass, the 911 call came from Dorothy Gass, Steven Gass’ mother.

The call was made from Higdon, Alabama, where Dorothy lives, he said. Josh O’Bryant, Walker County Messenger