It’s been five days since Demorest City Manager Kim Simonds fired Robin Krockum and she still hasn’t told him why.
The former police chief was let go on April 16 following a disagreement over a disciplinary matter. Within hours, his successor was hired and sworn-in.
The move outraged mayor Rick Austin and mystified councilman Sean Moore, neither of whom Simonds officially notified. Austin tried calling an emergency meeting for tonight (April 21) to discuss the matter, but Councilmen Nathan Davis and John Hendrix said they could not attend. Davis said he had a “conflict in his schedule” and Hendrix said he could not attend because of the state’s shelter in place directive.
The meeting was canceled due to the lack of a quorum.
With one open seat on the five-person board, Davis and Hendrix currently represent half of Demorest’s elected officials.
“An outrageous situation has gotten more outrageous,” Austin tells Now Habersham. “The citizens of Demorest are being held hostage by the actions of a very few.”
As of early Tuesday, Krockum said he still has not received an official separation notice. No one has told him why he was fired.
Simonds dismissed Krockum on April 16 following a disagreement over a disciplinary matter. She asked him to write-up a policeman for comments he made on social media about the town’s trash cans. Krockum declined, citing his officer’s right to free speech. After firing him, Simonds immediately turned around and hired former Demorest Police Chief Greg Ellingson.
City councilman Nathan Davis arranged Ellingson’s swearing-in, according to the county’s probate judge. City officials tell Now Habersham internal communications indicate Hendrix supported the decisions.
SEE Mayor reacts to police chief’s firing
Legal liability
With the city now exposed to potential legal liability over how the firing was handled, the mayor warns it may be “very costly.” The legality of Ellingson’s hiring also remains in question.
Demorest City Attorney Joey Homans says the next step is to address the issue during a council meeting. Demorest’s regularly scheduled meeting is on April 28 and will be teleconferenced due to social distancing guidelines.
Austin says he’s concerned the longer the city waits, the greater its liability becomes. He’s asked the State Attorney General and Governor to help resolve the stalemate. He wants Krockum reinstated and is seeking authority to appoint an interim council member until the November election.
Meanwhile, community support for the fired police chief remains strong.
The Libertarian Party of Habersham County passed a resolution condemning Simonds’ actions and demanding her immediate removal or resignation. The resolution also calls for Krockum’s immediate reinstatement.
People are putting out yard signs and posting signs of support for Krockum on their city-owned trash cans. And online social media campaigns supporting the fired chief continue to circulate.
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Moore: Police chief’s firing makes city “look like a bunch of morons”
This article has been updated to include additional information
