MEMPHIS, Tenn. — Prior reporting showed former Memphis Police Department Assistant Chief Shawn Jones was still voting in Georgia elections despite his role - but new files show that Jones was scheduled to work on at least one of the days that he voted in Georgia.
ABC24 previously reported on Jones actively voting in Georgia during his three-year tenure earning more than $177,000 as MPD's assistant chief. His primary residence was listed as still being in Fulton County, Georgia.
Jones voted three times in Georgia since becoming the MPD's assistant chief, including the Dec. 6, 2022 General/Special Election Runoff, the March 12, 2024 Presidential Primary and on the May 21 date mentioned above. All three times, Jones voted early and in-person.
On one of the days Jones voted in Georgia, Jones schedule obtained by ABC24 showed that he was paid to work as the MPD assistant chief and was not scheduled to take time off on March 8, 2024.
Memphis Mayor Paul Young and MPD interim-Chief Cerelyn 'C.J.' Davis held a meeting to announce that Jones was no longer employed with the department, but not fired and that his role had always been intended to be temporary.
"Chief Jones came to work everyday and took very few days off," Davis said during the meeting.
Young said Jones's residency had nothing to do with his change in employment, instead saying it had to do with morale issues and moving the department to the next level.
ABC24 requested documents of disciplinary actions taken against officers for violating the residency requirement. City of Memphis officials emailed saying there were no responsive records.
MPD officials did not respond to requests for comment from ABC24.
Memphis city council member Jerri Green said that she was not aware that he was voting while being scheduled to work, but she was not surprised.
"Logistics almost require he leave during work hours to make it before the polls close in [Georgia]," Green said. "I'm glad Mayor Young has moved MPD in a new direction. I just wish it had happened earlier."
City of Memphis officials provided a statement to ABC24's questions on whether it played a role in his dismissal from the department.
"Former Assistant Chief Jones was able to perform many of his job duties remotely, so there is no reason for us to believe he was in dereliction of duty on that date," the statement reads. "This was in no way related to his removal from his position.
Young sent out a weekly update email the Friday after Jones left the department saying that reporting on Jones had been, "less-than-clear," and, "a false headline."