Atlanta Town Marshal Fired, Says Reason is Personal!

Atlanta, Ind. (WISH-TV) -

A small Indiana town is without a town marshal. 

City council members fired Atlanta, Ind.'s top cop during a council meeting Tuesday night.
Council members are not talking to the media about the reason or reasons why they fired Jai Cook.
"They clearly told me, well (Council President) Mr. Emmert did, that it was personal,” Cook said. “When I told him he was making it personal he said, ‘You're damn right it's personal.’"
Cook describes his termination as a grudge match or small town politics at their worst. He is currently living with council president Andy Emmert's wife. Emmert is getting a divorce.
According to Cook, tensions between the two men reached new heights on Friday. Cook says that is when Emmert began yelling at Emmert’s daughter’s boyfriend.  The teen, who is from Pennsylvania, was visiting Atlanta, Ind. for the first time. He had never met his girlfriend's parents.

"I'm glad I didn't eat lunch because I was so nervous I probably would have puked it back up. He was in my face. (He told me) my age is inappropriate, our relationship is inappropriate. Me travelling across the country to see her is inappropriate," said 18-year-old Cody Grimm.

Cook, town marshal at the time, says he witnessed Emmert shouting at and dressing down the teen. Cook decided to file criminal charges against Emmert for disorderly conduct. Emmert found out and confronted Cook.  Cook said Emmert confronted him about filing the charges
The former top cop says council members suspended him indefinitely that afternoon. On Tuesday night they made it official.

Residents aren't happy.
"I thought it was it was crap,” resident Larry Dautrich said. “They had no reason to do it as far as I know.”
Another resident agreed.

"If they fired him because of personal reasons, I do not think that is fair," said Stan Cherry.
Cook is now out of a job. He is hiring a lawyer to fight his dismissal. The Hamilton County prosecutor is now looking into the disorderly conduct charge filed against Emmert.

NEW CONFIRMATION ON THE TOWN OF ATLANTA STORY!!!

The story you first read about here of the Town Board v. Police Chief in Atlanta, Indiana has been confirmed by both Fox 59 and The Indy Channel.  This is arguably the most unprofessional situation by town officials to be exposed in Hamilton County in a long time.

 

ATLANTA, Ind. -- A feud between the council president and the town marshal in a small Hamilton County community has sparked infighting among local leaders.Atlanta Town Marshal Jai Cook is sparring with council members over his job after he said he was fired when he refused to drop charges against the council president, 6News' Myrt Price reported.The turmoil began after Cook said he witnessed Council President Andy Emmert threatening and screaming at Cody Grimm, 18, the boyfriend of Emmert's 17-year-old daughter.
      "He said, 'Evidently they didn't tell you who the (expletive) I am, and what I can (expletive) do to you,' which was basically conveyed as a threat," Cook said. "The young man was terrified."Grimm told 6News that Emmert is upset he's dating his daughter."It did sound like a concerned dad at first, but then it got worse," he said. "I was afraid. I was very afraid. I broke down in tears.  "Cook said he believed Emmert crossed the line, so he began preparing charges against him. But he said once Emmert found out about the charges, he and the rest of the council stormed into his office last week and demanded the matter be dropped.  "I told him directly, 'I'm doing my job,'" Cook said.  He said that's when the council told him he was fired.  "They said '(Expletive) it, you're fired. Get your stuff and get out,'" Cook said.  But Cook has refused to step down, arguing that he never got his due process, as required by law. Hamilton County Prosecutor Sonia Leerkamp agreed that, legally, Cook cannot be fired.  Cook said he also believes the fact that he is dating Emmert's estranged wife, who is also the town clerk, may have something to do with Emmert wanting him out.  "She and I have been friends for years and we have recently started dating,"  Cook said.  6News went to each of the council members' homes to give them a chance to comment on the matter, but no one answered their doors.  Emmert did not return calls for comment.  Emmert is no stranger to controversy. He was arrested on suspicion of drunken driving last month.

taken from the indychannel.com Atlanta Story. 

Former Sheridan School Resource Officer Video Released

 

Former Sheridan School Resource Officer  is so excited about the new school year last fall, that he made a video about it!  Check it out!!

UPDATE!!!!!! - New Allegations in the Atlanta Police Story

      Unconfirmed reports of a sexual affair with the Town of Atlanta's Clerk Treasurer, Robyn Emmerts is what many are speculating led to the termination of the town's Chief of Police, Jai Cook.  Sources stated an ongoing extramarital affair with the wife of the Town Board President, Andy Emmerts, has been common knowledge among the small community for some time, as well as the local police officers.  As you recall, Andy Emmerts was arrested in August for DUI in the town of Atlanta.  Sources also say the arrest was made by deputies with the Hamilton County Sheriff's Department.  However, Andy Emmerts rekindled his bitterness toward Atlanta Chief Jai Cook when he refused to intervene and prevent the sheriff's deputies from arresting him.  Many townspeople are claiming the affair with Robyn Emmerts paired with not taking an active role into preventing the arrest of Andy Emmerts are the "real reasons behind the alleged termination" of police chief Jai Cook.
      Another source tells us this isn't the first time Andy Emmerts has interfered with the Atlanta Police Department and its enforcement of the law.  I received an e-mail from a citizen of Atlanta stating Emmert's son was pulled over for having illegally tinted windows.  Soon after, the reserve officer who made the traffic stop was fired, with only a hint of a reason being Andy Emmerts was "pissed off" that his son was stopped by the police department "that he runs". 
        As far as the situation with Chief Jai Cook and Robyn Emmerts goes, there are only a few eye witness accounts of anything, but the allegations seem to be known by "just about everybody", according to a police officer in Arcadia.  One anonymous source claims witnesses observed a "very close and personal" visit in the front seat of Cook's patrol car "behind the town hall, but closer to the railroad tracks".  Another person emailed me asking me where I have been for the last year, that this affair is nothing new.
      At any rate, the alleged affair, coupled with the arrest of Andy Emmerts, has the town and the police department "all f*cked up", according to one Atlanta officer who would not give us his real name, only asking to be called "Bingo".  Another officer from the Sheridan Police Department a few miles away, referred to the situation in Atlanta as "nothing unusual for Atlanta".    

     


Anyone with information, let me know.  Email me at  DSulli62@gmail.com.

Town of Atlanta, Indiana - Town Board President Arrested for DUI, Then Fires the Chief of Police

Chief Cook

      Okay, well, we can forget about the so far silly allegations of ghost employment in Sheridan for now.  For the record, with the exception of the news links and references, all of the following information is unconfirmed.  We have information about a new controversy in Atlanta, Indiana.  Apparently, Jai Cook, who is/was the Chief of Police in Atlanta has been terminated.  This amidst the recent arrest of the town council president Steven A. (Andy) Emmerts for DUI.   You can read more about that here.

 Emmerts

      The Atlanta town council is no stranger to controversy, and certainly no one I spoke with can remember a time when the town board and police department got along.  But the firing of Chief Cook after the recent arrest of Emmerts can't possibly pass the smell test, and if it did, it would smell like manure.  Sounds like the first stop for Cook should be his attorney's office, and then the local news media.     
      No other information has been received at this time about the dismissal of Chief Cook or has it even been confirmed.  If anyone has information that they would like to share about the situation, please feel free to comment below.

Sheridan Police Department

     
      I am sure by now, many people have heard of the so-called scandal involving the Sheridan Police Department and it's allegations of ghost employment by the Police Chief and Deputy Chief.  Alleged "sources" are crying foul because the top cops in the town have taken over the School Resource Officer (SRO) positions.  I heard Former Reserve Officer Brock Walker was removed from the SRO position after allegations surfaced that he was inappropriately texting/talking to/contacting female students at the high school, suggesting inappropriate subject matter and behavior.  The allegations about Former Officer Walker's conduct warranted parents notifying the Chief of Police and Town Officials when the girls came forward with their stories (which were already circulating).  After all, folks, this is Sheridan we are talking about, where rumors fly so fast a sonic boom in town is as common as a pickup truck.
      After the dust settles, the Chief and Deputy Chief adopt the attitude "if you want things done right, do them yourself" and assume the school resource officer responsibilities.  Now, a whistle blower decides to make an issue out of the fact and has the whole town, the state board of accounts, and the school corporation buzzing and scrambling to find out if there was any wrongdoing.  Allegations of Ghost Employment are flying everywhere (which has me totally confused). Anyway.......For the complete "ALLEGED" story according to Blogger Diana Vice, click here.

We will be back to discuss this later!!!  Feel free to comment on any knowledge you may have on the subject, feelings, use whatever language you want, and say what you feel.  Only ridiculous posts will be deleted........

Sheridan Police Website


UPDATE:  Friday, September 24th

       It seems we have lost focus, according to the comments section.  But, this is our page so we can say whatever we want (freedom of speech, right?).  I hear Brock "Big Unit" Walker has been alleged to have engaged in misconduct which led to his termination as an SRO, Sheridan Police Officer and high school sweetheart.  However, I would like to hear more about the ghost employment issues that are currently being alleged against SPD officers.  Don't get me wrong, post whatever you want, but if anyone has any information or opinions on the topic currently at hand, please let us know!      - Dave


UPDATE:  Town of Atlanta, Indiana - Town Board President Arrested for DUI, then fires Chief of Police