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UPDATED: Officers reprimanded, demoted and one resigns after bar fight
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UPDATE: The administrative investigation into the role of three Conyers Police Department officers in a bar fight at the Pointe on Jan. 15 has concluded with the resignation of one officer and written reprimands to two officers.
Officer Jason Heyman turned in a letter of resignation effective Jan. 21.


Officer Shyra Hardwick was given a written reprimand, docked 10 days pay, demoted from detective to officer, and transferred to the patrol division. It was determined she had violated policies of insubordination, unbecoming conduct, and conduct towards superior and subordinate officers.


Officer Derek Parker was given a written reprimand for unsatisfactory performance and moved from the internal affairs division to uniform patrol division.


According to the findings of the administrative investigation, written up by Capt. Mike Waters, a group of off-duty Rockdale County Sheriff's Office deputies and CPD officers had gone to the American Legion Hall and then to the Pointe bar to celebrate the retirement of RCSO Capt. Gary "Rat" Boswell.

Boswell argued with bar staff about allowing in a 19-year-old he claimed was his son who was the group's designated driver. The bar does not admit those under 21 years old.

A bar patron, Arron Fair, who was reportedly intoxicated, began arguing with members of Boswell's group, including Hardwick, her husband Dave Hardwick, reportedly an officer with the Johns Creek police, and Buck Vaughn. According to the investigation report, Fair claims he was pushed and he struck back, accidentally hitting Shyra Hardwick in the face.

When CPD officers arrived, Hardwick, who was not intoxicated, was reportedly confrontational and demeaning to the on-duty officers and to the shift supervisor, cursing them out and cursing out a bystander who commented on her behavior.

She also reportedly ignored commands of the shift supervisor when asked to go back inside the bar.

The written reprimand read, in part, "Your behavior toward the shift officer working the scene and a civilian patron were inexcusable."

"I asked Shyra if she would have arrested a civilian who had acted as she had that night," wrote Waters. "It was clear she was avoiding the question and I asked it bluntly: Do you think you were disorderly? Her response was ‘No. I was angry. I was emotional.'"

Parker was reportedly in the room but not part of the group shoving and arguing with Fair. According to the investigation, he was later told that Buck Vaughn had thrown the punch at Fair but had not communicated it to Waters.

Heyman was reportedly also in the vicinity and became upset that Shyra Hardwick had been hit and had to be taken out of the building by friends.

No criminal charges were pressed by any of the parties in the incident.

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Feb. 20, 8:54 p.m.: The administrative investigation into the role of three Conyers Police Department officers in a bar fight at the Pointe on Jan. 15 has concluded with the resignation of one officer and written reprimands to two officers.

Officer Jason Heyman turned in a letter of resignation effective Jan. 21.

Officer Shyra Hardwick was given a written reprimand, docked 10 days pay, demoted from detective to officer, and transferred to the patrol division. It was determined she had violated policies of insubordination, unbecoming conduct, and conduct towards superior and subordinate officers.

Officer Derek Parker was given a written reprimand for unsatisfactory performance and moved from the internal affairs division to uniform patrol division.

Check back later to www.rockdalenews.com for the full story.