Lamar Bunn, the police chief of Milner, Georgia, has accused Mayor Craig Timmons of secretly placing a tracking device on his truck amid a dispute that has prompted the city's entire full-time police force to resign. During a heated City Council meeting on October 19, 2026, Bunn also denied rumors that he was having an affair with City Manager Tausha Grose, who announced her own resignation. The departures have left the small Georgia town facing uncertainty over its police services and municipal leadership.
Who Is Lamar Bunn?
Lamar Bunn is the police chief of Milner, a small community in Lamar County, Georgia, with fewer than 1,000 residents. He led a department of five full-time officers, supported by reserve officers who volunteered their services.
Bunn became the focus of statewide and national coverage after publicly challenging the city's leadership during the October 19 council meeting.
He said a breakdown in trust between police personnel and elected officials had made it increasingly difficult for him to perform his duties.
Rather than continue under those conditions, Bunn submitted his resignation, effective October 28, alongside the department's other full-time officers.
Why Did Lamar Bunn Accuse Mayor Craig Timmons of Tracking His Truck?
The most serious allegation involved a tracking device that Bunn said had been installed on his vehicle without his knowledge or authorization.
According to reporting by WSB-TV, a resignation letter obtained through Georgia's Open Records Act alleged that Mayor Craig Timmons had personally purchased a tracking device and placed it on Bunn's truck.
Bunn said he had consulted an outside agency about whether the alleged surveillance violated the law or his rights.
He also claimed that Timmons had asked him to return the device in front of several witnesses.
The police chief made clear that he was not categorically opposed to vehicle tracking for legitimate municipal purposes. His objection concerned surveillance allegedly conducted without proper authorization or established procedures.
At the council meeting, Timmons was asked directly whether he had placed the tracker on Bunn's vehicle. The mayor declined to answer the accusation.
As of October 22, 2026, the allegation had not been established through a public court finding, and no criminal charge against Timmons related to the tracker had been confirmed.
Lamar Bunn Denies Rumors of an Affair With City Manager
During the same meeting, Bunn addressed another controversy involving his professional relationship with City Manager Tausha Grose.
He said he had been accused of having an affair with Grose and publicly denied the allegation.
The claim had added to an already tense relationship between police leadership and city officials.
No verified evidence establishing an affair has been presented in the reporting reviewed. Nor has it been established who originally circulated the accusation or whether any specific city official was responsible for spreading it.
Bunn's comments reflected his wider frustration over what he viewed as a loss of trust and respect within the city government.
Why Did the Entire Milner Police Department Resign?
The dispute reached a breaking point during the October 19 City Council meeting, when officials learned that the police chief, all full-time officers, and most reserve officers had submitted resignations.
Several officers cited frustration with the decisions of the mayor and certain City Council members.
One resignation letter obtained by WSB-TV questioned the judgment and decision-making of municipal leaders, particularly regarding the police department.
Disagreements over off-duty employment also contributed to tensions. City officials had discussed restrictions involving officers' use of municipal vehicles for outside work.
However, Bunn and Grose rejected the suggestion that the employment policy alone had caused the resignations. Both emphasized the breakdown in trust.
Bunn said he had not instructed his officers to quit or organized a coordinated departure. According to him, individual officers made their own decisions.
The resignations were submitted rather than immediately taking effect, leaving time for possible discussions before October 28.
City Manager Tausha Grose Also Resigns
Milner City Manager Tausha Grose announced that she would step down effective October 30, just two days after the police department's scheduled departure.
Grose, who said she had dedicated approximately six years to the city, became emotional while explaining her decision at the council meeting.
She described a working environment in which trust had deteriorated to the point that she no longer believed she could fulfill her responsibilities effectively.
Her resignation significantly increased the pressure on Milner's elected leadership, which now faces the possibility of losing both its police department and its chief administrative official within days.
How Did Mayor Craig Timmons Respond?
Mayor Craig Timmons acknowledged that he had not expected the wave of resignations.
He expressed disappointment and suggested that there might still be opportunities to resolve the disagreement before the departures became effective.
However, when questioned about the tracking device, Timmons declined to provide a direct explanation.
FOX 5 Atlanta and WSB-TV also reported attempts to obtain further comment from the mayor.
Without a detailed public response, important questions remain about who acquired the tracking equipment, who authorized its use, and whether municipal procedures were followed.
Is the Georgia Bureau of Investigation Investigating the Tracker?
Milner City Council member Ryan Lewis told local newspaper The Herald Gazette that he understood the Georgia Bureau of Investigation (GBI) was examining the tracking allegations.
Separately, Bunn confirmed that he had contacted an outside agency to discuss whether the reported surveillance was lawful.
These statements indicate that concerns about the tracker may extend beyond an internal employment dispute.
However, the available reporting does not establish that the GBI has formally opened a criminal investigation or reached findings concerning Mayor Timmons.
The legal significance of the alleged tracking would depend on ownership of the vehicle, authorization, applicable laws, and other circumstances established through an investigation.
What Happens to Policing in Milner, Georgia?
The resignation of an entire police department creates an immediate challenge for a community as small as Milner.
All five full-time officers, including Chief Bunn, are expected to leave on October 28 if their resignations remain in effect. Most of the department's reserve officers have also reportedly resigned.
According to regional reporting, the Lamar County Sheriff's Office is expected to provide law enforcement coverage after the departures.
Local officials have not fully detailed how municipal policing responsibilities, staffing, and administrative operations will be reorganized.
Former City Council member Skip Seda also raised the possibility of pursuing Milner's disincorporation if the town permanently loses its police force and administrative leadership.
That suggestion has not been adopted as an official city policy.
Could Lamar Bunn Withdraw His Resignation?
Despite his public criticism of city leadership, Bunn has indicated that he remains open to resolving the dispute.
During interviews following the meeting, he expressed affection for the Milner community and a willingness to consider solutions that could restore trust.
He emphasized that the central issue was not simply compensation or outside employment, but whether he and his officers could continue serving effectively under the current circumstances.
As of October 22, 2026, there was no confirmed agreement reversing the resignations.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is Lamar Bunn?
Lamar Bunn is the police chief of Milner, Georgia, who announced his resignation in October 2026 following disputes with the city's mayor and council members.
Why did Lamar Bunn resign?
Bunn cited a loss of trust in city leadership, concerns about unauthorized surveillance, and interference affecting the police department's operations.
Did Mayor Craig Timmons put a tracker on Bunn's truck?
Bunn and an officer's resignation letter alleged that Timmons placed a tracking device on the chief's vehicle. The mayor declined to comment directly, and the allegation has not been conclusively established in a public legal proceeding.
Was Lamar Bunn having an affair with Tausha Grose?
Bunn publicly denied the rumor during the October 19 council meeting. No verified evidence supporting the allegation has been established in the reporting reviewed.
Who is Mayor Craig Timmons?
Craig Timmons is the mayor of Milner, Georgia. He faced public criticism after the police chief accused him of unauthorized vehicle tracking during a dispute that prompted mass resignations.
Did all Milner police officers quit?
All five full-time officers, including Chief Bunn, submitted resignations, along with most reserve officers. The full-time department's scheduled last day is October 28, 2026.
Who is Tausha Grose?
Tausha Grose is Milner's city manager, who announced her resignation effective October 30, 2026, citing a breakdown in trust within the municipal government.
Who will provide police services in Milner?
The Lamar County Sheriff's Office is expected to provide law enforcement coverage if Milner's police department ceases operating after the resignations take effect.
Conclusion
The dispute involving Lamar Bunn and Mayor Craig Timmons has developed into a serious leadership crisis for Milner, Georgia. What began as disagreements over police oversight and workplace policies escalated into allegations of unauthorized surveillance, disputed personal rumors, and the resignation of the town's entire full-time police force.
For now, the tracking allegations remain unresolved, and both the police department and city manager are scheduled to leave before the end of October 2026.
Whether Milner's officials can reach an agreement before those departures take effect will determine the immediate future of the town's police department and municipal administration.
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