THOMASVILLE — On the heels of amended complaints in a damage law suit filed in 2018 against the City of Thomasville and some city council members, a defendant council member said there is no factual basis for any of the lawsuit’s allegations.

Council member David Hufstetler, a defendant, said he has reviewed the complaint filed by Police Chief Troy Rich and Thomasville Police Department (TPD) command staff members.

The suits states that Mayor Greg Hobbs directed Waylon Parker, former TPD officer, to write a letter containing defamatory, disparaging comments about Rich and the command staff in December 2017. Parker gave Hufstetler, then a council member-elect, a copy of the letter at a council meeting in January 2018 and told him to give the letter to the mayor. The 11-page letter is the crux of the 2018 police damage suit seeking $1 million in damages. In addition to Hufstetler, Hobbs and the city, Council member Terry Scott is named as a defendant.

Last week, officers’ Moultrie attorney, Robert D. Howell, filed an amended complaint to the June lawsuit alleging Hufstetler, Scott and Hobbs met with various individuals in an attempt to fire Rich and replace him with a retired Thomas County Sheriff’s Office officer.

Hufstetler said there is no basis for allegations of illegal meetings “or any other improprieties by our city or the council persons named.” The Southern Judicial Circuit District Attorney’s office also said the meeting alleged in the recent court filing to have occurred between Hufstetler, Hobbs, Scott and an assistant DA to discuss replacing the police chief did not take place. 

“I suppose my biggest disappointment in this entire saga is that (Chief) Rich never reached out to me nor any other council members to have frank open discussions of any concerns by any of the parties in order to make some attempt at a resolution before filing a frivolous lawsuit against the very people, the city of Thomasville, who he is sworn to protect and to serve,” Hufstetler said.

The council member said that having worked previously in law enforcement for 15 years, he is saddened the police chief, who is sworn to protect and serve Thomasville residents, is “suing the very people he works for. That is the citizens of this great city” for $1 million.

Hufstetler said that neither plaintiffs nor their attorneys are bound by the truth. 

“At some point, they will be,” he added.

“Quite frankly,” Hufstetler continued, “I do believe if (Chief) Rich and/or any of the other officers individually or as a group involved in the suit would be willing to have frank, open discussions with myself and any other members of council, of course, along with our current city manager, with or without attorneys, I am extremely confident we could collectively bring this whole thing to a satisfactory conclusion. And quickly.” 

The council member issued “an open invitation” to the chief and officers involved to discuss the situation.

“I will pledge to each of them that any such conversations would in no way hinder them from proceeding with their lawsuit should they choose to do so,” Hufstetler said, adding that his phone number is (229) 224-1855.

Rich referred a request for a comment to Howell.

“The text messages discovered to date via open records requests reveal conduct that speaks for itself,” Howell said. “The conduct requires no commentary or spin from anyone and is quite simple to understand. A select group of council members wanted (Chief) Rich and the other plaintiffs fired, and they worked in secrecy together to try and accomplish their goal. Had we not uncovered their plot and fought back with litigation, I am afraid these council members would have succeeded in claiming my clients’ jobs already. In the process of carrying out their plot, the defendants in this case harmed some good people, and the lawsuit does nothing more than seek to hold them accountable for the harm they caused.”

Hufstetler’s comment about an unwillingness on plaintiffs’ part to explore resolution prior to filing a lawsuit is simply false, Howell added.

“My clients offered mediation prior to filing their lawsuit, but that was rejected by all defendants, including (Mr.) Hufstetler,” Howell said. “Plaintiffs’ offer to mediate still stands, and all of the defendants, by and through their legal counsel, know how to contact us.” 

Senior reporter Patti Dozier can be reached at (229) 226-2400, ext. 1820