Brooklet police chief steps down after heated video goes viral

BROOKLET, GA (WTOC) - Brooklet's police chief stepped down Thursday after a phone video captured two heated exchange between police officers and a driver.

Chief Doug Meyer tendered his resignation and declared his intention to retire on Thursday afternoon. The resignation will be effective next Friday. Brooklet city council will also meet Thursday in executive session to discuss the officers involved in the roadside stop. Two now-viral videos brought strong reactions from Sheriff Noel Brown.

Meyer made this decision after an off-duty officer confronted her as she moved a relative's children from a car with no car seats to her car with car seats.

The woman, Cindy Lee, said the officer stopped her because she was in an argument with the off-duty officer earlier who came to the roadside stop as well. She said they confronted her about car seat violations, as well as her attitude. Lee was carrying a friend's children, not her own.

When she stops at city hall, Meyers insisted they talk where lobby cameras could record the conversation but then ordered her to leave the building. All the while, Lee was asking for the contact information of city officials.

Her two videos, which were posted to Facebook, have been viewed approximately 100,000 times since Tuesday.

The videos have triggered immense feedback. Many people have replied to them saying the officers overstepped their authority.

Now the officers could face repercussions from the city council.

Others said the driver should have been more cooperative.

Meyer says that "...for a long time when it comes to transparency, it is what it is. That's why we wear cameras."

Mayor William Hendrix said the chief has done a good job since he arrived three years ago, and this was an isolated incident. He did, however, acknowledge that the chief acted "a little aggressive" in the exchange. He classified the chief's leaving as a retirement.

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