THOMASVILLE — Thomasville City Council unanimously approved a resolution Monday to appoint an attorney who will conduct an investigation into claims by Thomasville Police Department (TPD) officers, including the TPD chief.

Cartersville attorney David Archer’s probe also will address allegations about TPD officers in an 11-page letter written by police officer Waylon Parker, who has been on administrative leave since the letter surfaced earlier this year.

The motion to approve the investigation resolution was made by Mayor pro tem Terry Scott, with a second by Council member Jay Flowers. The motion was to hire Archer to conduct the probe and to designate a city employee to be the lawyer’s contact.

Police department claims were contained in three letters to the council from Moultrie attorney Robert Howell on behalf of Police Chief Troy Rich and his command staff.

“While I am not privy to, and thus cannot speak directly about, the specifics of any aspect of the city’s investigation into my clients’ claims,” Howell told the Times-Enterprise on Tuesday, “I can say that my clients welcome any and all fair, thorough, and unbiased investigations into the defamation claims which my clients have made against the mayor and others working in concert with him at the city.

“I am confident that any full and fair investigation will reveal that Mayor (Greg) Hobbs, and others working with him, acted with specific intent to harm my clients by procuring and then releasing to the public, media outlets and other authorities a wealth of false and damaging information designed to harm my clients’ careers and reputations in their community. We look forward to exposing any and all unlawful conduct and seeking legal remedies for that conduct as the process moves forward.”

City attorney Tim Sanders said the investigation was suggested by Gallagher Bassett, the city’s claims service.

“Under the charter, the council can open an investigation into affairs of the city,” Sanders said earlier. “It is my understanding (Mr.) Archer’s investigations will be limited to civil matters.”

The police chief and seven other officers are seeking $1 million from the city, alleging violations of Georgia’s Whistleblower Protection Act and Hobbs’ abuse of powers. One of the letters to the council and other city officials stated the mayor violated his oath of office and fiduciary duties and committed other violations of Georgia law and intentionally created “a toxic environment” for TPD employees.

According to a letter from the Moultrie attorney, in December 2017, Hobbs “ordered and directed” Parker to write a letter to “professionally and personally disparage, discredit, undermine and defame members of the department’s executive and supervisory staff.”

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