Lawrenceville police chief to retire following sexual harassment allegations; acting chief named

LAWRENCEVILLE, Ga. — The Lawrenceville Police Department has named an acting police chief after the current chief was suspended following accusations of sexual harassment.

Chief Tim Wallis was suspended for 10 days following an investigation into the allegations that lasted for months.

The investigation began in October, and several people have been penalized, including the chief.

The City of Lawrenceville said last week that it became aware in October of “internal sexual harassment, hostile work environment, and improper use of city property complaints in the Lawrenceville Police Department.”

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Wallis was suspended without pay for 10 days, the assistant chief of police received documented verbal counseling and the entire police department and city staff will have to undergo mandatory, in-person training.

The Lawrenceville Police Department said in a statement it has appointed Maj. Myron Walker as acting police chief and that Wallis will retire.

“As we prepared to move the Lawrenceville Police Department forward after recent events, I met with the Chief to discuss the future. During that meeting, Chief Wallis and I mutually agreed that it was best for him, the city, and the Police Department that he step down as Chief and retire from the City on February 15, 2022.”

A police captain who declined to be interviewed during the investigation resigned from the department before the internal investigation was completed. That officer also put in his formal retirement from POST.

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