By Yolanda Rodriguez
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
KENNESAW, Ga. — Kennesaw’s police chief abruptly resigned Wednesday, a few days after he totaled his city car and officials started an investigation into the accident.
Tim Callahan, who was named chief in December 2002, told city officials he was leaving to pursue other opportunities. His resignation from the $81,452-a-year job is effective April 1, said David Layman, a spokesperson for the city.
Assistant Police Chief William Westenberger was named acting police chief.
Callahan lost control of his chief’s car — a 2007 Ford Crown Victoria — about 8:30 p.m. last Friday on Acworth Due West Road.
Callahan, 52 was southbound on the road when he “failed to negotiate a sweeping left hand curve,” according to the accident report. Callahan drifted off the roadway and hit a tree. The $22,000 cruiser was totaled.
Callahan broke a finger and bruised his wrist, Layman said.
Cobb County police, who investigated the accident, cited Callahan for “failure to maintain lane.”
The coding on the accident report says Callahan had been drinking, but was not impaired. Field sobriety tests were not performed, the accident report said.
City officials were looking into the details of the accident when Callahan turned his resignation into City Manager Steve Kennedy on Wednesday morning, Layman said.
Kennesaw Mayor Mark Mathews declined to comment.
According to Callahan’s biography on the Kennesaw website, he began his law enforcement career with the Marietta Police Department in 1978.
He was director of Coastal Georgia Police Academy in Brunswick from 1983 to 1986. Callahan was with the MARTA Police Department from 1986 until he joined Kennesaw in 2002, first as assistant police chief and then as its head a few months later.
Copryight 2008 The Atlanta Journal Constitution