Frantz elaborated on his decision in a news release he issued Wednesday morning.
Frantz says over the past few months he felt himself being "pulled toward" returning to the military.
He does not mention being suspended by the city a couple of weeks ago, but says he leaves the City of Flowery Branch, its citizens and his fellow officers with "my head held high."
The text of Frantz's news release follows:
I have served in public safety for a period just less than 18 years. In past 5 years I have served the citizens of Flowery Branch as a Police Officer, assistant Chief and as the Chief of Police with a staff of 8-10 officers. These police officers handle on average 3400 calls for service each year.
During this time I have served the citizens to the best of my ability and have seen real improvements in the police department's service it provides to the citizens as well as the city overall. I can also see the need for continued improvements during this time of rapid growth the city is currently experiencing. Police services are this community's best asset and are more critical considering the concerns with post 9-11.
I have however over the past three months have found myself being pulled toward returning to the military in service to my country and in January I had decided to resign my post as Chief of Police but had not decided on an exact date for this resignation to become effective.
I feel there is a greater need for me to follow my heart and to continue to serve my country and to allow for another chief to continue providing services that the citizens of this fine community as well as the business owners have come to expect. Therefore I have decided that effective immediately to resign my post as Police Chief.
I leave the City of Flowery Branch the citizens and my fellow police officers with my head held high knowing I served them and my post with the utmost dedication in building a quality Police Department to serve the needs of the people. I wish the citizens of this fine community as well as the police officers the best of luck in the future and I would like to thank them for allowing me to serve as their Police Chief.
http://accesswdun.com/article/2004/2/163224