Politics & Government

Police Chief Paid $17,000 While on Leave

L. Rick Richardson had been away from work since late November until his termination went into effect Saturday.

Before Chief L. Rick Richardson was fired last week, he was paid roughly $17,000 by the city while on paid administrative leave, according to information obtained by Patch through the Georgia Open Records Act.

He was put on leave in late November because he sold two surplus police cars for an undervalued amount directly to the Braswell Police Department instead of putting them up for auction, according to Richardson’s termination letter. It was originally reported that Richardson had only sold one vehicle. 

The letter, dated Feb. 9 and signed by City Manager Rick Eckert, also says the chief illegally donated a video camera to Braswell. The letter is attached to this article.

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Richardson, who had been police chief since 1994 and worked for the department since the early 1980s, has appealed his termination, which went into effect Saturday.

A timetable, including a first appearance, has not been scheduled for the appeal process, Eckert said after Wednesday’s City Council work session. Council members declined to comment, citing that they are part of the appeal process. 

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The investigation into the allegations brought against Richardson, who had an annual salary of $74,921, was conducted by the Cobb County Sheriff’s Office.

In the termination letter, Eckert writes: “It is with regret that the circumstances that have been brought forth by the independent sheriff’s department investigation have left me no choice but to take action that has resulted in the termination of your employment with the city of Powder Springs.”

Richardson sold the two cars—a 2002 and 2003 Crown Victoria—to Braswell for $1,500 each “despite the fact that each vehicle included installed equipment well in excess of the $1,500 sales price,” the letter says. 

The two cars were declared surplus by the City Council on March 5, 2007 and were required by law to be sold at an auction, which was scheduled for March 10, according to the letter. 

“Although there is no evidence that you benefited personally as a result of the sale of these vehicles, the circumstances of the sale lead to questions concerning your integrity,” the letter reads. 

The letter also says Richardson donated a video camera system to Braswell’s police department prior to May 2008 without approval of the City Council or mayor.  

He previously acknowledged to Powder Springs police Lt. Matt Boyd that “this is a serious matter for which you bear personal responsibility to the city,” the letter says of the camera donation. 

At a federal trial into the matter, Richardson denied both the camera donation and the car sales, according to the letter. 

“False statements by a police officer are a violation of the law enforcement code of ethics requiring honesty in thought and deed, and exemplary obedience to the laws of the land, and the regulations of the department, and are therefore a violation of your oath of office,” the letter reads. 

If Richardson’s appeal is unsuccessful, the city will advertise the open position, Eckert said Wednesday. 

Maj. Mark Weaver has been overseeing the department until an interim chief takes over. 


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