After an internal investigation on the department's funding, possible misconduct and a public resignation by the former leader of the police department, Ringgold, Georgia, has named its new police chief.
Jennifer Jones, a former detective with the Ringgold Police Department, will serve as chief.
Former police Chief Dan Bilbrey gave a passionate speech in January about how his department is underfunded, overlooked and how morale with his employees was consistently low.
A week later, Bilbrey told the Times Free Press that Ringgold's city manager, Dan Wright, put a tracking device on his car without his knowledge. Wright declined to comment on the allegation.
The internal investigation looked at budgetary concerns, tracker placement procedures, equipment and vehicles, compensation and benefits and usable space in the police department.
Jones had taken over for Bilbrey after his resignation as the interim chief. She's been with the department since December 2017 as a detective. She's also worked several full-time and part-time positions with Georgia Northwestern Technical College, the LaFayette Police Department and the Henry County Police Department in McDonough.
The three-person hiring panel was Wright, Mayor Nick Millwood and Human Resources Director Gina Wilson.
Jones was selected from a field of about 20 candidates. The Ringgold City Council met the final two candidates after the hiring panel interviewed five applicants. The council made the Jones hire official Monday night.
"Administratively she is exceptional," Millwood said. "Dealing with the public, she has that calm and grace about her that is very, very effective. I think that crosses over into all the things she does with officers and employees. She's firm and fair and handles it with grace."
Millwood said Jones had the advantage of being the interim chief in charge since Bilbrey's departure. He said that was a factor in the decision but not the deciding factor.
"We were very proud and happy to promote from within," he said. "I think any time you can do that, it sends a positive message to our department. She has an opportunity to bring some long-term stability because we don't change police chiefs in Ringgold too often."
Millwood said Jones is young, energetic and passionate about community policing that focuses on residents.
After meeting behind closed doors over the last several months in executive session, the council decided it will not take any action in response to Bilbrey's allegations that Wright had placed a tracking device on his car.
The council was advised by its attorney that city employees have no expectation of privacy while using city vehicles and the city "reserves the right to use tracking devices to ensure accountability and employee safety."
The council recommended clearly defining that policy in the employee handbook.
The city's review of its police department's budget showed an 111% increase since 2009, or an average increase of more than $48,000 a year. Bilbrey had a laundry list of requests before leaving and the city estimated his requests would cost the city another $504,000. Those included improving department facilities and updating vehicles, among other things.
The council is not recommending an increase in the police department's operating budget. The council agreed to increase the pay for a part-time officer to $19 an hour to be more competitive and will increase the city's contribution to employee family health insurance coverage from 50% to 70%. The increase will save all employees who have family coverage between $198 and $257 a month, according to the city.
Contact Patrick Filbin at pfilbin@timesfreepress.com or 423-757-6476. Follow him on Twitter @PatrickFilbin.
Ringgold Police Chief Jennifer Jones / Photo contributed by the city of Ringgold