Atlantic Beach police chief fights back after being fired

Timothy Taylor was recently fired from his post as chief of Atlantic Beach police, and now he’s filed a grievance in an effort to get his job back.

News that Taylor was fired came Monday afternoon when the town issued a statement. Taylor was placed on administrative leave following an arrest in connection with domestic violence charges in early September.

According to a Conway police report, Taylor became “irate” when he was told he couldn’t pick up his children, allegedly pulled out a gun and threatened to harm himself, the report states.

Town officials said they were weighing whether Taylor would remain as chief following the alleged incident. An Horry County magistrate judge dismissed the charges at a hearing on Oct. 20.

“The judge heard the case. He dismissed the charges, and I’m happy with that, and I’m just going to continue to move forward,” Taylor said Tuesday.

Taylor said he felt positive about the grievance process before him.

“I believe in the judicial system. I believe that it played out. … And I believe that the grievance process will play out when I stand before the board. I believe that they’ll do the right thing and reinstate me and (give) me my job back.”

Since the news of the his arrest, Taylor said he’s had more than 200 phone calls from folks in the community offering support.

He said people also have written emails and letters to town officials showing they support him.

“I have a lot of people that’s standing for me and supporting me and believes in me, so that motivates me to keep fighting for the people.”

Taylor said he wasn’t sure what his next step would be if he isn’t reinstated, but said he felt hopeful he had a bright future.

“Either way it goes, I still have a bright future,” he said.” This one thing, this hiccup in life, it don’t define who you are.”

Taylor claims town officials offered him the opportunity to resign, but he declined.

Taylor was named as the Atlantic Beach police chief in August 2014.

Through a town administrative employee, Atlantic Beach Town Manager Benjamin Quattlebaum declined to comment on the grievance filed by Taylor.

In a news release sent Monday, the town said Officer Quentin Robinson will serve as the interim chief of police for the Town of Atlantic Beach Police Department, and that the town would begin a search for a permanent chief within the next two weeks.

This story was originally published October 31, 2017 at 3:01 PM with the headline "Atlantic Beach police chief fights back after being fired."