Unearthing the Past: Gin Nashville Police Chief Ronald J. Knowles'

8/22/2026 7:39:09 AM

herapalmer123@gmail.com Police Misconduct Reporting

When communities place their trust in law enforcement leadership, transparency and accountability stand as the cornerstones of public safety. However, a review of historical records from the Georgia Peace Officer Standards and Training (POST) Council exposes a troubling history regarding Nashville Police Chief Ronald J. Knowles (also referenced in documents as Rodney S. Knowles), highlighting significant omissions on his initial certification application and a multi-year disciplinary background.

Application Omissions and Hidden Criminal History

According to Georgia POST Case Summary No. 005-056-01-98, Ronald J. Knowles submitted an application for Peace Officer Certification on August 14, 1997. On the criminal history section of his application, Knowles left the record blank, failing to list any misdemeanor, felony, or traffic convictions.

A subsequent routine inquiry through the NCIC/GCIC databases uncovered that Knowles had omitted key convictions from his past, including:

A 1983 conviction for Driving Under the Influence (DUI), which had resulted in 12 months of probation, a $300 fine, and a requirement to attend DUI school.

A 1989 conviction for Carrying a Concealed Weapon (alongside associated charges).

Further investigation by POST officials revealed an even broader pattern of municipal offenses that had not been funneled to state GCIC tracking. Certified documents exposed that Knowles had been arrested on fourteen separate occasions for various municipal offenses. Further investigation by POST officials revealed an even broader pattern of municipal offenses that had not been funneled to state GCIC tracking. Certified documents exposed that Knowles had been arrested on fourteen separate occasions for various municipal offenses.

A Chronology of Municipal Violations

The POST case summary outlines a steady accumulation of arrests and guilty dispositions spanning the 1980s, primarily involving disorderly conduct and public disturbance:

March 1983: Convicted of DUI, receiving 12 months probation and fines.

November 1983 October 1985: Multiple arrests and guilty dispositions (often via bond forfeiture) for disorderly conduct, including a $50 fine plus jail costs in November 1983 and bond forfeitures ranging from $50 to $60 through 1985.

December 1984: Convicted on two counts of damage to city property and disorderly conduct, resulting in a $150 bond forfeiture.

September 1986 April 1987: Additional disorderly conduct convictions, including a $110 fine plus jail costs in April 1987.

December 1988: Found guilty of carrying a concealed weapon, carrying a pistol without a license, public drunkenness, and giving false information, totaling $385 in fines.

February 1989: Arrested for disorderly conduct, profane language, and providing false information (dispositions noted as not guilty on specific charges).POST Council Action and 36-Month Probation

Due to the extensive undisclosed record and application falsification, the POST Professional Compliance Committee Chairman, Darlene Neely, alongside Council Chairman Donnie Haralson, initially recommended that Knowles' certification application be denied pursuant to Georgia law (O.C.G.A. 35-8-7.1) in May and June of 1998.

However, the matter ultimately resolved through a Consent Order executed on August 31, 1998, signed by Executive Director Richard Darby and Assistant Attorney General Kyle A. Pearson. Under the terms of the agreement:

The formal denial of certification was withheld, and Knowles' application was approved conditional upon a 36-month probationary period.

The order formally served as a reprimand.

Knowles agreed to strictly abide by all state and federal laws and POST rules, acknowledging that any noncompliance could lead to immediate revocation of certificaye.

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Source: Unearthing the Past: Gin Nashville Police Chief Ronald J. Knowles'