Ringgold council launches month-long inquiry into allegations against city manager

The city of Ringgold issued a proclamation Monday night, Feb. 24 announcing that it will launch a month-long inquiring into allegations of unethical behavior made by the former police chief against City Manager Dan Wright.

When Dan Bilbrey resigned as police chief during the Jan. 27 meeting, he cited lack of support from Wright and the City Council as one of his reasons for departure. He also alleged that Wright placed a tracker on his vehicle, created less-than-stellar morale among officers, and failed to allow him to run his department accordingly.

Since Bilbrey’s resignation, Mayor Nick Millwood and others have stated that looking into those allegations seems like the most logical step in the aftermath of a 10-year department head quitting in such a public fashion.

That process kicked off Monday night (Feb. 24) when Millwood presented and read a proclamation for the inquiry.

“We, the mayor and council, are committed to completing the inquiry into the concerns expressed about the management of the police department,” Millwood read aloud from the proclamation. “These specific points are to be addressed: budgetary concerns, tracker placement procedures, equipment in vehicles, compensation and benefits, and usable space in the police department.”

Millwood explained that the inquiry will investigate the claims made by Bilbrey, local attorney Mccracken

Poston, and subsequent others who have spoken out since late January. He added that the results of the inquiry will be revealed this time next month.

“Following consultation and review with the city attorney, we will release the findings along with any future recommendations by the regularly scheduled council meeting on Monday, March 23, 2020.”

The council unanimously approved the proclamation with a 5-0 vote.

During the public comments portion of the agenda, after the proclamation was accepted, Poston once again reiterated his concerns about the city manager’s power, and how a charter change four years ago created an instance where a simple majority vote could remove the city manager from his post. Now all five council members must vote

INQUIRY,

Adam Cook Ringgold’s Mayor Pro Tem Sara Clark and Mayor Nick Millwood address citizen concerns during the Feb. 24 City Council meeting. During the meeting, the board approved launching an inquiry into allegations of misconduct made by the former police chief against City Manager Dan Wright.