Dear Editor,
This is Bill Ashburn, retired Police Chief of Madison.
I recently read your article about the current Police Chief being placed on administrative leave. I also noticed that you referenced me in your article. I could not help but notice that you chose to print a statement from “some who speculate” that I left due to a recent audit conducted on the Madison Police Department.
Had you taken the time to reach out to me, I could have shared my actual thoughts. First, there was no single reason for my decision to retire; the main reason was that I felt it was best for the agency.
I was “old school” and did not allow visible tattoos or beards. I was told I needed to relax that policy to attract more police officer candidates. Maybe so, but my position was not going to change. Beards and tattoos do not make someone a bad person; however, I do not believe they present a professional appearance in uniform. I was also told that new leadership in Madison felt there was a “good ole boy” system in place and intended to eliminate it. While that may not have been directed at me personally, I am sure I fit that profile.
The former City Manager, David Nunn, and I both grew up in Madison and attended school together in the Morgan County School System. You could say we have known each other nearly all our lives.
Mayor Fred Perriman has also been a family friend for years; he was one of two pastors who spoke at my father’s funeral, and his daughter sang at the service. I attended school with other former city employees as well, including Wayne Gahan, Rusty Johnson, and Rhonda Bell, among others. It has been reported that more than 45 people have left employment with the City of Madison in the past three and a half years.
I believed the Police Department might receive better cooperation from City Hall if it were led by a chief chosen by City leadership. Specifically, I hoped the pay scale for new and current employees could be brought more in line with other agencies. It was difficult to attract qualified police officer candidates because other departments offered more competitive compensation and benefits.
I was eligible to retire based on age and tenure with Madison, so I chose to do so. I gave my notice to the City Manager, and the terms were mutually agreed upon.
Are things better for the department since I retired? I suppose that can be “speculated” as well, given that Chief McIlvaine has filed a formal complaint against the City Manager along with three other employees at the time—and, coincidentally, Chief McIlvaine has now been placed on administrative leave, as you reported.
My intention was to retire quietly and enjoy this stage of life. However, it seems small matters like this continue to resurface, and I felt I could not let the record stand without comment.
For the record, you stated that the current average tenure for a police chief is approximately 2.5 years. I served as Police Chief for more than 11 years. Prior to that, I served 31 years with the Georgia State Patrol, holding every rank from radio operator to captain, and retiring as troop commander for the district that includes the Lake Oconee area.
I hope this provides another perspective beyond the speculation that was printed.
Respectfully,
Chief Bill Ashburn (retired)