Ex-police chief lands a different public-service job after Columbus Council ousted him
Four months after Columbus Council ousted him as police chief, Freddie Blackmon is serving the public in a different career.
Blackmon is teaching social studies at Fort Middle School, according to the Muscogee County School District’s staff directory.
In an email from MCSD communications director Kimberly Wright, Blackmon and Fort principal Amia Hamilton declined the Ledger-Enquirer’s request for an interview.
It’s unclear how Blackmon qualified to be a teacher, but MCSD conducts a program for such situations. The Georgia Teacher Academy for Preparation and Pedagogy is an alternative pathway for those who have a bachelor’s degree in another field to earn teaching certification faster and cheaper than going back to college while working full-time as a teacher under a provisional certificate.
Blackmon accepted the Columbus Council’s $400,000 severance package to retire in April.
Part of Blackmon’s severance package includes his agreement to not pursue legal action against the city. Mayor Skip Henderson sent him on March 15 a $250,000 severance offer. Blackmon hired an Atlanta law firm that sent the mayor a March 28 counter proposal seeking around $850,000 and threatening to sue on claims of racial discrimination.
The council unanimously approved Blackmon’s appointment as chief in November 2020, when he became the second Black top cop in the city’s history.
At a February 2022 council meeting, Columbus Police Lt. Ralph Dowe, president of the Fraternal Order of Police local chapter, presented results of a survey that showed only 5% of the 219 respondents, representing 70% of the city’s police force and 95% of the chapter’s members, were confident Blackmon could manage the department in a manner that provides for officer safety, fair treatment of officers and reduces crime.
One month later, Dowe and fellow Lt. Tony Litle sued Blackmon, other city officials and the Columbus Consolidated Government, alleging Blackmon discriminated against them by not promoting white men to achieve a predetermined racial and gender balance in the department.
The lawsuit ended in July 2023, when the council unanimously voted to authorize payments totaling $600,000 to settle the claims and pay the plaintiffs’ attorney fees.
In May, Henderson appointed Stoney Mathis as the city’s interim police chief. Mathis has been police chief in two other Georgia cities: Chattahoochee Hills and Fairburn. Last month, Mathis applied for the permanent position as CCG conducts a nationwide search.
This story was originally published August 14, 2023 at 2:29 PM.
