---
date: 1978-01-03
title: January 3, 1978 Minutes
source: 1978-01/1978-01-03_January 3, 1978_Minutes.pdf
pages: 1
---

January 3, 1978

CITY OF STOCKBRIDGE
HENRY COUNTY, GEORGIA JANUARY 3, 1978

THE OATH OF OFFICE, CITY OF STOCKBRIDGE, GEORGIA

We, Councilmen, who have been duly elected to office to serve the City of Stockbridge, do solemnly swear
that we will uphold the by-laws and the Charter of the City of Stockbridge, the Constitution of the State of
Georgia and the Constitution of the United States of America and to perform the duties of our office to the
best of our ability without fear or favor, So Help Me God.

George Hart, Mayor - resigned

R. G. (Rudy) Kelley – appointed Mayor April 10, 1978

Joe Simmons
Edward H. Whiddon
Harold Cochran
Ross McMichael
CITY OF STOCKBRIDGE
HENRY COUNTY, GEORGIA JANUARY 3, 1978

A special meeting of the Stockbridge City Council was held January 3, 1978 at 7:30 p.m. with Mayor Hart
presiding and members Harold Cochran, Rudy Kelley, Ross McMichael, Joe Simmions and Ed Whiddon
present.

Motion was made by Harold Cochran to adopt a resolution to renew the short-term note with First National
Bank of McDonough in the amount of $11,967.08 but not to exceed $29,000.00 to sewer Creek Circle,
seconded by Ross McMichael and passed unanimously.

Officer Robert Pilcher requested a hearing before the City Council regarding his dismissal from the
Stockbridge Police Department for his involvement in an accident on December 17, 1977.

Officer Pilcher explained that he received a dispatch for a lookout for an orange Volkswagen traveling west
on Highway 42 entering Stockbridge. This vehicle was reported to be attempting to run vehicles off the road.
Officer Pilcher and Officer Steve Bentley were at Highway 42 and 138 West when this call was received.
Pilcher preceded Bentley eastbound on Highway 42 running blue lights. When they reached Ward Street,
Pilcher stopped at the Easy Clean Car Wash.

Officer Pilcher stated he planned to stop and wait for the vehicle but received another dispatch informing him
that the Volkswagen was leaving the Tastee Freeze heading East on Highway 42. At this time, he decided
to proceed eastbound on Highway 42 running blue lights and siren.

When he reached the Tastee Freeze, he could see Officer Bentley just ahead of him but lost sight as Bentley
disappeared in a dip in the road. As Pilcher crested the hill, he realized Bentley had stopped in the road but
it was too late to stop. He tried to avoid an accident by swerving to the right but failed.

Council asked that Officer Bentley come forward but he was not present.

At this point, they talked with Billy Tapley, the officer who dispatched the lookout for the orange Volkswagen.
Officer Tapley stated the owner of the Volkswagen was the person requesting help and that a white station
wagon had attempted to run him off the road east of Stockbridge on Highway 42. Tapley reported there had
been some messages from a local resident on her CB radio causing the confusion.
It was Council's decision that Officer Pilcher was driving too fast for conditions and should have been in
control of his vehicle and accident could have been avoided. Although Officer Pilcher was at fault, they feel
the dismissal was too severe but some disciplinary action was necessary. They recommended he be
reinstated but be placed on suspension for two weeks beginning December 30, 1977, the original date of
dismissal.

In order to hear Officer Bentley's account of the incident, another meeting was scheduled January 4, 1978.

Respectfully submitted,

Merle Manders George W. Hart, Jr.
City Clerk Mayor
