Columbus Police Chief Fred Shelton is retiring, effective Aug. 15.
Shelton, who has been chief since 2018, submitted his notice of retirement this morning, according to Mayor Keith Gaskin. The council, at a 10 a.m. special meeting, unanimously accepted his retirement.
Gaskin confirmed that Shelton had been asked to resign on Friday due to high turnover, low staffing and morale problems. Gaskin said since Shelton took over more than 70 officers had left.
Gaskin said the council will put together a search committee at its next meeting to handle the search for a replacement. The search will be national.
For the full story, see tomorrow’s edition of The Dispatch.
Brian Jones is the local government reporter for Columbus and Lowndes County.
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