SPRINGFIELD — Guyton Mayor Jeff Lariscy and City Manager Tom Wirth announced Tuesday that interim Public Safety Director Stacy Strickland and Officer Michael Clarke of the Guyton Police Department have been placed on administrative leave pending the outcome of an investigation.
Sheriff Jimmy McDuffie has agreed to act as interim director until the probe's conclusion. The cause of the investigation hasn't been revealed.
Strickland is fighting his suspension. His attorney, W. Joseph Turner of Savannah, sent a letter to Guyton officials Monday night.
The letter says in part, "Captain Strickland is a seasoned police captain who has proudly served the City of Guyton for many years. He unequivocally denies any wrongdoing in this or any other matter. We are shocked at the City’s decision to suspend him during this investigation. The City of Guyton will suffer greatly without Captain Strickland’s steady hand guiding the Police Department."
More information will be available once the investigations have come to a close.