THOMASVILLE — At the Monday Thomasville City Council meeting, a local resident accused a top-ranking Thomasville Police Department officer of taking a bribe.

Keith Thomas, who addresses the council frequently, directed his comments to City Manager Alan Carson — “the new guy in charge.”

“Well, I want you to know under your watch I had one of your assistant chiefs that I paid off to get rid of a ticket for me,” Thomas said. ‘I’m letting you know today I paid him to get rid of a ticket.”

Thomas’ remarks came during a time when people are allowed to address the council for three minutes.

Carson said Tuesday the city takes allegations of alleged bribery seriously. 

‘We will do a full investigation and get to the bottom of what, if anything, happened,” he said.” I take seriously what happens on my watch.”

Carson expects the investigation to be completed next week.

At the end of the Monday council meeting, Carson said he has been Thomasville city manager for eight months and attended about 16 council meetings, adding that people have made negative remarks about several city employees.

“But I will tell you as citizens I have found no truth in any of these,” Carson said. “I have found them to be straight up.”

He said some of the criticism has been unfair.

Council member Jay Flowers said that in is seven years on the council, he has seen second- and third-tier city employees follow in their predecessors’ career paths.

“You will not find a department here without 20-year employees,” he said.

City police and fire departments receive many accolades, as do other city employees, for superior performance, Flowers said.

Council member Todd Mobley said that in his dealings with city employees, “They always answered promptly.”

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