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ZEBULON - On July 14, 2026, Pike County Times observed a request for monetary relief in the case of Jonathan Hemphill and Trustin Brazer vs. Larry Mitcham, City of Zebulon Chief Administrator, Michael Johnson, City of Zebulon, and City of Zebulon Police Department in Pike County Superior Court.

The hearing began at 9 a.m. and lasted until around 7:25 p.m. with only an hour break for lunch and short breaks throughout the day. Pike County Times entered the courtroom after the ending of the Pike County Tax Assessor Board Meeting.

This article will be a brief overview of the case since many of the items presented in the hearing would have a direct impact on the case when it was heard in the jury trial.

At this time, Pike County Times has no information on whether the case will be continued or not. (Pike County Times will not be reporting on any of the details of Hemphill’s passing.)

The Request for Monetary Relief

Judge Rhonda Kruezinger heard a request for monetary relief as it was presented by the Paul Howard Law Firm out of Atlanta on the behalf of Hemphill and Brazer. Paul Howard, Ethan Worcester, and Enoch Hutchinson represented Hemphill and Brazer with the Paul Howard Law Firm.

Butler Snow LLP out of Ridgeland, Mississippi spoke on the behalf of the City of Zebulon and those employed at the time of the Hemphill and Brazer’s termination from duty at the Zebulon Police Department. Lem Montgomery, Carly Chinn, and Josh Arias represented the City of Zebulon with Butler Snow LLP.

Howard filed a complaint seeking immediate Declaratory and Injunctive Relief and damages based on the argument that the City of Zebulon and all involved parties failed to follow the due process provisions of the Constitution of the United States, the State of Georgia, and the City of Zebulon’s Personnel Manual that require the City of Zebulon and the Police Department to show cause and provide a pre-termination hearing before Chief Hemphill and Corporal Brazer were terminated from employment with the City of Zebulon Police Department following an allegation concerning the Chief’s sobriety.

The complaint alleged that since there was no pre-termination hearing and both officers were terminated without pay, that the terminations had ruined them financially, the officers have not been able to find employment as law enforcement officers – though Brazer was present in a law enforcement uniform, and the allegations had destroyed their reputations in the small communities in which both reside which caused them severe emotional and psychological harm.

The complaint asked the Court to direct the City of Zebulon to pay backpay to both Hemphill and Brazer and keep both Hemphill and Brazer on the payroll until the complaint for damages was heard.

The Day in Court

Throughout the day, Judge Kruezinger reminded the parties to direct their comments to the bench and advised that there would be order and no disrespect in her courtroom. She listened to what was said from both sides and asked questions that helped her to make the final decision on this request.

Evidence was also presented and debated by both parties throughout the day with various items such as photos, videos, and written evidence including emails, texts, medical records, and policies for the City of Zebulon being ruled admissible for the jury trial.

The Paul Howard Lawfirm advised the judge that he was seeking the money that these officers would have received in their salaries if they had not been terminated from their employment.

Butler Snow LLP argued that the City of Zebulon Personnel Manual provides that employees can be terminated both for cause and without cause and that the officers were "at will" employees with the City of Zebulon.

Howard argued that the officers had not had a pre-termination hearing prior to their terminations. The City argued that the officers had an opportunity to have a hearing with their attorney before City Council after their terminations for insubordination.

In her final ruling, Judge Kruezinger said that she could not find a case for the Court to award money on an injunction and said that it goes against the public interest to pay or reinstate anyone.

She ruled that the case could still move forward for a jury trial but ruled against awarding injunctive relief in this case.

Closing

Pike County Times has followed this case since 2024 including the terminations, the appeals hearings, and the decision of the Zebulon City Council to uphold the terminations.

To read more about these past events, please click on the links to each article listed below.

BREAKING NEWS: Zebulon City Council Fires Two from Zebulon Police Department Including the Chief: http://pikecountytimes.com/secondary/BREAKINGNEWSzebulonpolicedepartment8.6.24.html

BREAKING NEWS: ZPD Appeals Hearings Postponed: http://pikecountytimes.com/secondary/BREAKINGNEWSappealshearing12.4.24.html

Zebulon City Council Meeting - December 10, 2024 at 6:00 pm: http://www.pikecountytimes.com/secondary/zebulon12.11.24.html

BREAKING NEWS: Zebulon City Council Upholds Terminations of ZPD Officers: http://pikecountytimes.com/secondary/BREAKINGNEWSterminationsupheld12.20.24.html