8 months ago
Cochran's police chief has resigned, with his department still under investigation by the GBI.
Mayor Gene Towns says Jon K. Thrower gave him a letter of resignation last Monday, effective last Friday.
He says the chief didn't give a reason except to say Thrower was "looking for something else to do."
Towns would not release Thrower's letter.
He said Thrower has been with the Cochran police department for 16 years, with the last four as chief.
"I could not have asked him to be more loyal," said Towns. "I think he did a great job."
He said he heard lots of criticism of Thrower during this fall's election, although he would not describe the complaints.
"People were unhappy, and I believe that is one of the reasons I lost the election. People were screaming for his resignation, and I had no provable reason for him to be fired." Towns leaves office this month.
At least three Cochran officers have been charged with crimes in the past year -- two for allegedly enticing a child, one on drug charges.
Todd Lowery, assistant agent in charge of the Georgia Bureau of Investigation's Eastman office, says the agency continues to investigate complaints about the Cochran police department, although he could not discuss details.
Key McGuire, a 16-year-veteran of the department, has taken over as acting chief.
He and Towns both said they don't know if Thrower's departure is connected to the GBI investigation.
And McGuire says he hopes it will not affect the department any further.
"We're keeping our heads above water," he said. "As for the people who didn't do their jobs so well, good riddance to bad rubbish."
