BARTOW COUNTY, Ga. — The city of Euharlee appointed an interim chief of police Thursday night, just hours after the chief and his top lieutenant were arrested for theft of government funds and violation of oath of office.
Chief Terry Harget and Lt. Richard Smith are accused of double dipping by getting paid twice while working as school crossing guards.
Investigators say both men got paid as crossing guards for the Bartow County School System while still on the clock and getting paid by the city.
“I just know that we’re a small town and this shouldn’t happen in our small town. We’ve got so many other things going on, I just can’t believe it,” said Euharlee resident Wanda Upton.
The school district says it contracted with the city for police crossing guards a few years ago. The officers assigned, at $25 a day, were supposed to be off duty.
The school district’s police chief called the GBI after noticing irregularities.
Superintendent John Harper said, “I am disappointed and saddened by the alleged actions that led up to this point. However, now that the situation is out of our hands, we will await the judicial process.”
"We just kind of have a really tightknit family here and do what we can do to try to make our city work and try to take pride in what we do," said city manager Trish Sullivan.
The GBI says its investigation also found Harget and Smith got paid by the district while having other officers work as crossing guards for them.
Harget and Smith were arrested Thursday morning and had bonded out of jail by afternoon.
“At this point they're still on administrative leave, but we do anticipate their resignations tomorrow,” said Euharlee Mayor Dennis Thayer at an emergency meeting Thursday night. “We're in the process of obtaining all of the items that have been issued to both employees.”
At that meeting, it took Thayer and City Council members an hour to appoint Lee New to the interim chief position.
New has 28 years of experience with the Atlanta Police Department and eight years with Cobb County police. He is currently retired, but will come out of retirement to step into this new role.
“I'm confident Chief New will do a superb job, and while this is may be a speed bump for the city, it will not decrease or diminish our police department,” said Thayer.
At the meeting, Thayer promised the citizens of Euharlee that they will be protected.
WSBTV
