A Paulding County city’s police chief resigned while he and the department were under investigation.

Hiram police Chief Todd Vande Zande offered his resignation before a city council meeting Jan. 30, the city said Tuesday in a statement.

Vande Zande made his resignation effective April 16.

The investigation that began in 2017 involved alleged employee morale issues and employee turnover within the police department, the city said.

Southern Professional Investigations reported at the Jan. 30 meeting that no violations of state, federal or local ordinaces were discoverd.

A final report has yet to be submitted to city council members for consideration.

In other news:

A Louisiana woman left a beautiful handwritten letter to new parents. Jamie Fontenot's father, James Lee Grimmett, died at Lafayette General Hospital Jan. 12. Fontenot wrote the letter to the first new baby born there. New parents Connie Despanie and Benjamin Hall were touched and named their baby Kingston James.

About the Author

Keep Reading

Emory University police are investigating after a woman died at 1256 Briarcliff Road shortly after midnight Friday. The site, shown in this image captured hours later, corresponds to a filming location from the Netflix series “Stranger Things.” Emory purchased the site in 1998. (Ben Hendren for the AJC)

Credit: Ben Hendren

Featured

Yemaya Lyles (right) wipes away tears during a news conference in front of the Rockdale County Public Schools administration building on Tuesday, Dec. 19, 2023. Lyles' son, Antonio, was assaulted by a paraprofessional, who has since been fired and charged with battery. Lyles says her case against the school district has dragged on since then. (Miguel Martinez/AJC 2023)

Credit: Miguel Martinez