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.

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Sandy Springs officers respond to a police shooting in the area of Roswell Road and Dunwoody Place on Thursday. (Ben Hendren for the AJC)

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Managing Partner at Atlantica Properties, Darion Dunn (center) talks with Atlanta Mayor Andre Dickens during a tour following the ribbon cutting of Waterworks Village as part of the third phase of the city’s Rapid Housing Initiative on Wednesday, Dec. 3, 2025.
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