LATEST: Support mounts for fired Demorest police chief
On Thursday, April 16, Demorest City Manager Kim Simonds fired Demorest Police Chief Robin Krockum. Within hours, former police chief Greg Ellingson, who Krockum succeeded in 2016, was re-instated during an impromptu swearing-in ceremony at City Hall.
The changes came as a surprise to Krockum, Demorest Mayor Rick Austin, and Demorest City Councilman Sean Moore. Neither Austin nor Moore were notified of the firing and hiring.
New councilman Nathan Davis was the one who asked Habersham County Probate Judge Pam Wooley to swear-in Ellingson. It is not clear what, if any, role he and fellow councilman John Hendrix had in the decisions to fire Krockum and hire Ellingson. They have not responded to Now Habersham’s request for comment.
Demorest police chief fired; former chief sworn-in to replace him
This morning, City Manager Kim Simonds and Ellingson met with members of Demorest’s police force. Simonds refused to comment after the meeting and has still not responded to Now Habersham’s request for information as to how and why the decisions were made.
In an exclusive interview with Now Habersham following the meeting, Demorest Mayor Rick Austin shared his reaction to the personnel changes and how they were handled.
