Timothy Ashley, Quincy’s former police chief, was only on the job for two years. He was brought in by the city manager, Robert Nixon, in 2021, after serving 20 plus years with the Florida Highway Patrol and eight with the Gadsden County Sheriff's Office. But at Tuesday night's city commission meeting, he said Nixon came to him in October asking him to do one of the following; resign or be terminated.
“I declined the option to resign because I did nothing wrong,” Ashley said.
According to Ashley’s termination letter, Nixon states the former chief was not maintaining a “functional work environment.” The letter went on to say that Ashley mismanaged funds and resources.
Nixon gave examples at the meeting, pointing to unpaid bills, like the internet, waste management, and government fleet services–all of which are managed by the police chief.
“Over the course of Chief Ashley’s tenure, he’s struggled with having the ability to have himself or his staff manage those resources," said Nixon. "Every month there was some line that was in the negative. That happens from time to time, but it became a theme for the police department.”
While the majority of the room sided with Ashley; there were some that spoke in favor of the decision to terminate him.
Richard Murphy, the President of the Big Bend Police Benevolent Association claims he received negative feedback from officers of the Quincy Police Department, which led him to investigate the department.
“I never came to Quincy Police Department, all of sudden every time I turn around, I’m at Quincy PD for an internal affairs investigation," said Murphy. "There was an environment of chaos, instability, and at the end of the day Chief Ashley was the chief and he is responsible for that.”
Quincy City Commissioners had very few words following the comments. That’s because they too were apparently just hearing of the issues for the first time, and that’s a problem for Commissioner Robin Wood. She said she did not receive any documentation or complaints from the city manager about Ashley, and wants to know why, and how to fix them.
“I had no idea," said Wood. "I am a city commissioner on this dais...did everybody else know and I didn't? I’m just asking. That's my issue.”
The commission has settled on a plan to conduct an investigation that will examine not only Quincy’s Police Department, but the city clerk, and the city manager too. The investigation is scheduled to be complete by December 31st of this year.
Watch Tuesday's commissioners meeting in full below: