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COLUMBUS, Ga. — From our former police chief brazenly breaking the terms of his $400k severance contract, to a city councilor speaking up about how an assistant police chief was extorting the mayor, to a new interim chief finally being appointed four weeks after the mayor originally said he would, here’s all the muck that’s fit to print from the Columbus, Georgia area, along with a look at what to expect in the week ahead.
BLACKMON BROKE TERMS OF $400K SEVERANCE CONTRACT; PAYMENT COULD BE REVOKED
This story was originally published on May 1, 2023.
COLUMBUS, Ga. — Former police chief Freddie Blackmon appears to have willingly and intentionally violated the terms of his $400,000 severance contract with the City of Columbus.
Now, that huge payout and all of its other benefits may be in jeopardy.
We recently published a recap of some of the terms and conditions of Blackmon’s severance agreement. One of those terms was that Blackmon must comply with all of the terms outlined in the contract.
Explore the full story to see how former police chief Freddie Blackmon’s several breaches of his severance contract could result in the loss of his entire payout and all of his benefits, along with both the full memorandum published by Blackmon and his severance contract at the end of the article.
ICYMI: MUSCOGEE COUNTY JAIL IN SHAMBLES; REBUILD MIGHT COST OVER $250 MILLION
This story was originally published on January 16, 2023.
COLUMBUS, Ga. — Deputy city manager Pam Hodge recently revealed that the Muscogee County Jail may cost the city more than $250 million to rebuild.
The most costly option proposed by Hodge is currently projected to cost as much as $277.5 million to taxpayers.
With violent crime continuing to rise throughout the city, many residents have pointed out how the jail’s overcrowding, poor operations, and atrocious conditions may be resulting in the city choosing not to fairly prosecute offenders nor sentence hard jail time, which puts violent offenders back on the street to recidivate into committing even more violent crime.
The jail's state of shambles comes just three years after the Department of Justice released the jail from its 20 years of federal oversight. The DOJ had sued Muscogee County in 1999 after the discovery of atrocious conditions that violated inmates’ constitutional rights. That lawsuit resulted in the DOJ closely monitoring the Muscogee County Jail until July of 2019.
Now, according to Hodge’s briefing during the city council meeting held on January 3, 2023, the jail has quickly fallen into an atrocious state of disrepair which was described as both physically and operationally dangerous. Hodge’s presentation can be found in-full on pages 174-200 of the meeting’s agenda packet.
Explore the full story for the details complete with extensive photo coverage of the jail’s current state of disrepair.
MALL SHOOTING LEAVES FAMILIES SCARED TO GO ANYWHERE IN COLUMBUS
This story was originally published on May 3, 2023.
COLUMBUS, Ga. — A daytime armed robbery at the Peachtree Mall ended in gunfire in front of parents and their children.
The horrific event is just the most recent example of the city’s extreme rate of violent crime.
As a result, locals continue to fear going about their daily lives in their own home town.
The event happened shortly after 11:30 on Tuesday, May 2, at the SB Jewelry & Sunglasses right in front of the Macy’s exit of the mall. Two armed suspects walked in and robbed the store, collecting what they could. Gunfire erupted just before the two men fled.
Thankfully, no one was injured in the shooting — though the events rightfully left many mall-goers with serious concerns for their safety here in the Fountain City.
Explore the full story to see how intolerable appeasement and soft-on-crime policies continue to turn Columbus into Gotham City for its locals, let alone for ‘tourists.’
LEAKED: CITY COUNCILOR SPEAKS UP ON WHY CPD IS STILL WITHOUT INTERIM CHIEF
This story was originally published on May 4, 2023
COLUMBUS, Ga. — “Then man your ships, and May the Fourth be with you!” — General Dodonna, upon assaulting the Death Star (modified).
As violent crime continues to rise throughout the Fountain City while our police force remains without an interim chief, one city councilor seems to have flat-out had enough.
City Councilor Walker Garrett (District 8) has decided to bravely speak up on the truth behind what is preventing our city’s officers from having the leadership they require — and the overwhelming majority of council seems to stand behind Garrett’s perspective.
Just under one month ago, former police chief Freddie Blackmon signed a severance agreement with the City of Columbus and was relieved of all duties on April 6.
That same day, Mayor Skip Henderson said there would be an interim chief named “almost immediately.” The following day, Henderson very quickly walked back his words to “in a day or two.”
Explore the full story to see why our city’s police force still doesn’t have an interim chief, along with how it is affecting the safety of our city.
CPD OFFICERS CONFIRM ASST. CHIEF SEEKS HOSTILE TAKEOVER; MAYOR TOO SCARED TO STEP UP
This story was originally published on May 5, 2023.
COLUMBUS, Ga. — “When a decision has to be made, make it. There is no totally right time for anything.” — Gen. George S. Patton.
Officers of the Columbus Police Department have now come forward to confirm information that one of the department’s assistant chiefs is effectively seeking a hostile takeover of the department.
The officers’ information comes after city councilor Walker Garrett (District 8) came forward earlier this week to ensure the public knew the truth about why Mayor Henderson has refused to appoint a new interim police chief to the department.
Immediately after former police chief Freddie Blackmon signed a severance agreement and was relieved from all duties on April 6, assistant chief of administration Joyce Dent-Fitzpatrick began making baseless threats to sue the city for ‘discrimination’ if she was not made the department’s interim chief of police, despite the fact that such a claim would have no legal standing whatsoever.
In response, Mayor Henderson has refused to appoint anyone to the position for over four weeks while consistently lying to the public about the situation, opting to appease and cower to Fitzpatrick’s hostile behavior instead.
According to sources close to the Muckraker, a supermajority of city council strongly agrees with Garrett’s words, which are now also corroborated by police officers themselves who have witnessed the events.
Explore the full story to see what the officers had to say about the hostile & conniving behavior exhibited by one CPD assistant chief.
STONEY MATHIS APPOINTED AS INTERIM CHIEF OF CPD; MAYOR RELEASES STATEMENT
This story was originally published on May 6, 2023.
COLUMBUS, Ga. — One month after former chief of police Freddie Blackmon signed a severance agreement with the city and was relieved of all duties, Mayor Skip Henderson has appointed a new interim chief of police to CPD.
The appointment comes one month to the day after Henderson infamously stated the department would have a new chief in ‘a day or two.’ Within that time, the department has experienced intentional sabotage during what was essentially a staged coup by one of CPD’s assistant chiefs who sought a hostile takeover of the department. The actions remain without accountability.
The news also comes just days after city councilors began publicly voicing their sincere concerns for the mayor’s lack of action while the department continued to erode at the behest of one assistant chief and her extortionary threats against the city.
Now, after four weeks without a chief, our city’s police officers finally have the leadership they deserve.
Chief Stoney Mathis, former vice president of the Georgia Association of Chiefs of Police, has now been announced as the city’s new top cop. He will serve as the interim chief throughout the duration of the city’s search for a permanent chief. Mathis will begin his service immediately, with his first day on Monday, May 8, 2023.
Explore the full story to see Chief Mathis’ impressive credentials and track record, along with a statement from Mayor Henderson’s office.
THE WEEK AHEAD
A press conference will be held on Monday, May 8, 2023 at 10:00 a.m. regarding the appointment of Chief Stoney Mathis as the interim Chief of the Columbus Police Department. The press conference will be held in the Basement Training Room of the Public Safety Building located at 500 E. 10th Street. Mayor Henderson and Chief Mathis will both be present. For more information, please contact The Office of the Mayor at 706-225-4712.
The Columbus City Council is scheduled to hold a regular meeting this coming Tuesday, May 9, 2023 at 9:00 a.m. The meeting will be held on the second floor of the C. E. “Red” McDaniel City Services Center located at 3111 Citizens Way, Columbus, GA 31906.
Immediately following the council meeting, council will hold a meeting of the Budget Review Committee at 12:00 noon. The committee is chaired by Councilor Judy Thomas (District 9).
A Look At Personal Safety
As the Columbus Police Department continues to unify under its new leadership model, violent crime is still likely to exist at higher levels than we would all like — even in what have previously been thought of as the “safer parts” of our city.
We at the Muckraker want to encourage our readers and their loved ones to remain hyper-vigilant as they go about their daily lives.
Based on lifetimes of experience and the combined professional careers of us at the Muckraker and our associates, here are what we consider to be the most important ways Columbusites can make themselves “hard targets” to avoid becoming a crime victim:
Back Our Blue
In closing, we at the Muckraker would like to thank the outstanding men and women of the Columbus Police Department who continue to shell out for the safety and well-being of our city each and every day, despite the abhorrent temporary conditions they are currently forced to work within.
“All police officers are entitled to outstanding leadership.”
Our city cannot thank you enough for what you do for us.
If you’re out and about throughout the week and see one of our city’s brave and valiant police officers, be sure to thank them. We’d bet it would mean an awful lot to them.
Residents are strongly encouraged to express their concerns and condolences for the brave men and women of the Columbus Police Department by emailing Mayor Skip Henderson directly at SkipHenderson@columbusga.org, while cc’ing their respective city council members on the email.
Facts are stubborn things — and we’ll keep publishing them, whether city officials like them or not.
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© 2023 Muscogee Muckraker. All rights reserved.
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