1:49 PM Former Dothan Police Chief - Glynn County Police Chief - INDICTMENTS DISMISSED

Rickey Stokes

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Posted by: RStokes
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Date: May 14 2024 2:04 PM

GLYNN COUNTY GEORGIA:    On the retirement of Dothan Police Chief John White then Dothan City Manager Mike West said he was about to make the most important hire of his tenure as City Manager.

Dothan City Manager Mike West hired John Russell Powell of Escambia County Florida as Dothan’s Police Chief.

John Powell hit Dothan, where he remained Dothan Police Chief for about five years when he resigned for a state job in Tallahassee Florida. The five years that Powell served as Dothan Police Chief were five years of turmoil and controversy.

From Dothan to Tallahasee, Powell then went to Esambia County Florida ( Pensacola ) where he unsuccessfully ran for Escambia County Sheriff. While seeking Sheriff Candidate John Powell was charged and entered guilty pleas to misdemeanor campaign violations.

From his unsuccessful campaign for Escambia County Sheriff John Powell was appointed as Police Chief of Glynn County Georgia. John Powell was sworn in as Police Chief in 2018.

In 2020, while serving as Glynn County Georgia Police Chief, John Powell and his Deputy Chief were indicted by a Glynn County Georgia Grand Jury. They were accused of ignoring reports of narcotics unit misconduct. A charge that the Glynn County Georgia Police Chief denied very strongly.

The case has gone through two District Attorney’s and a special prosecutor and loomed in various courts for four years. On Tuesday the Georgia Supreme Court ended the four year legal battle and the indictments are dismissed.

The opinion of the Georgia Supreme Court stated the criminal indictment "provided details that did not line up with the indictment". They further wrote it was "legally impossible to commit the crimes in the way the state alleged in the indictment".

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The article also reads this was political. The Sheriff of Glynn County Georgia at the time did not like Glynn Police Chief John Powell. He wanted the department closed and the Sheriff take over the law enforcement duties.

This legal battle was four years long.

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