BRUNSWICK — Former Brunswick Police Chief Edna Johnson, who was removed from her job over information she provided to city officials concerning disciplinary action against an officer, has decided to retire.
Johnson turned down a job as Brunswick's grant coordinator and emergency management liaison. Instead, she will retire with 30 years of service.
Johnson's lawyer, Neil Henrichsen, contacted City Attorney Lynn Frey before Wednesday's deadline for Johnson's decision. He said his client would not accept the job offer but wished to retire effective Sept. 17, allowing her to reach the 30-year mark.
I think it's a smart thing for her to do that," Frey said. "She had a bunch of accumulated leave so she won't lose that, but would let that carry forward until her anniversary date."
Johnson was fired last month for giving city leaders incorrect information about disciplinary action she took against an officer who had sex with a prostitute.
She said she had suspended the officer for 10 days because he did not know the woman was a prostitute and had passed a polygraph test.
An internal affairs report showed the officer had failed the polygraph and had then admitted knowing about the prostitution. That report was available to Johnson.
City Manager Roosevelt Harris advised Johnson to resign, and when she refused, he dismissed her.
Frey said Johnson had not technically been fired because of the appeals process, and the city commission's decision amounted to a demotion.
Even if Johnson had been fired, as a vested employee she would have still received retirement benefits she had earned, Frey said.
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