The city of Baldwin has named a new temporary police chief after an eventful week in which three officers, including Interim Chief Matt Nall, resigned from their positions.
Deputy Chief Jerry Saulters of the Athens-Clarke County Police Department will serve as the City of Baldwin’s temporary police chief, beginning this coming Monday, May 10. Saulters was brought forward to hold the temporary position by the consulting firm Baldwin hired. The city hired the services of the consulting firm to review and improve the police department.
The city has dealt with issues in the past with their police department, like the bodycam footage of Baldwin officers Ryan Thomas and Ryan Provost allegedly acting violently against multiple individuals. Thomas and Provost were included in former Baldwin Police Chief William Anastasio’s report to the Georgia Bureau of Investigation regarding the Baldwin Police Department’s conduct. The GBI, district attorney’s office and the City of Baldwin cleared Thomas of any wrongdoing. Provost resigned his position in 2013 following an alleged misconduct incident while training at the Georgia Public Safety Training Center. He is no longer with the Baldwin Police Department.
The three officers left their positions at the beginning of the week. The city says that Saulters and their consulting firm, Excellence Exceeded, will work to “further professionalize” the police department.
As of May 12, there will only be two officers on staff at Baldwin PD. As a result, Mayor Joe Elam says the city is adjusting its shift schedule to provide police coverage from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. daily. Night shifts will be covered by the Banks and Habersham County Sheriff’s Offices.
“The Mayor and Council are confident that the measures we are currently taking will satisfy both the short and long-term public safety needs of our city,” Mayor Joe Elam said in a press release. “In the coming weeks, we will be working diligently with our consultants, with the assistance of Chief Saulters, Sheriff Terrell, and Sheriff Speed, to install a permanent Chief and a Police Department we can all be proud of.”
The City of Baldwin will meet Monday, May 10 at 6:30 pm in the City of Baldwin courtroom. There will time allotted at the meeting for public comment. The meeting will also be livestreamed on the city’s Facebook page.
This article has been updated to clarify allegations lodged and investigated against specific officers within the Baldwin Police Department, as well as Provost’s resignation.
