Emerson police chief, officers resign amid city tensions

<p>Emerson's police chief and most of his police force resigned Wednesday amid tensions between the department and the city's new manager.</p><p>It is unclear how many officers will stay on the force in the city of nearly 1,100, located about 32 miles northwest of Atlanta. Former Police Chief Ed Bell said all but one of the city's 13 officers agreed to quit.</p><p>"We might have a couple more come back," said Mayor Henry Jordan, who said Lt. Kevin McBurnett likely will be appointed interim police chief. "We're going to build the department again. It's going to be a good department, it will just take a little while."</p><p>The walkout happened after new City Manager Larry Clark sent to Bell on Wednesday directives that included reducing the police department's work force by half.</p><p>"Cutting the police force by half ... is a serious officer-safety issue," Bell said, explaining that five officers would not be enough to patrol the city.</p><p>Clark said the department was over budget.</p><p>"We tried to adjust our operations to stay within the budget," Clark said.</p><p>Bartow County Sheriff Clark Millsap said deputies will do all they can to assist Emerson. Dispatcher's calls were switched over to the Sheriff's Office on Wednesday. Georgia State Patrol troopers already patrol parts of the city.</p>

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