A Tennessee police chief and two officers suddenly "walked off the job" Monday, leaving the department with a single officer, according to the city attorney.
"They were not fired. ... They were not discharged. There's a process to do that. And they did not formally resign, they walked off the job, which is troublesome, but they walked off the job," Jacksboro City Attorney Stephen Hurst told WBIR-TV.
According to officials, Police Chief Jeremy Goins and two officers turned in their guns and badges Monday. The department only staffs four officers, and the walkout leaves the agency with only one officer.
Hurst said he didn't know why the chief and officers walked off the job.
"If they have grievances, I'm sure they will air those grievances in the proper place, the proper forum or whatever," he said. "But at this point in time, if they have them, they are not known to me. And if they will air those grievances in the proper form, we'll deal with that. But at this point in time, they just quit."
The city is now recruiting new officers to fill the vacancies, but there is no timetable for that. Officials have asked the Campbell County Sheriff's Office and LaFollette Police Department to help with coverage in the area, and the biggest concern is making sure night patrols are filled.
"They will hold the fort, and we get some more folks with the help of joining agencies," Hurst said.
