College Park is facing another lawsuit, days after the former owners of Chelsea Gardens Apartments filed a nearly $15 million lawsuit against the city.
The latest action was filed in federal court on behalf of former Police Chief Connie Rogers, who alleges discrimination based on her sexual orientation and retaliation for reporting suspected misuse of public funds.
The allegations include a nearly $500,000 payment to Keller Williams by the Business and Industrial Development Authority (BIDA). City officials have said the payment lacked proper approval and they did not learn about the payout until months later.
Rogers resigned in December 2025 after then-Deputy Chief Sharis McCrary warned her that officials were planning to terminate Rogers’ employment, according to the lawsuit filed Oct. 22 in U.S. District Court for the Northern District.
McCrary is now police chief following her own discrimination lawsuit against College Park. Rogers and McCrary share an attorney, Artur Davis.
“Like so many city officials in College Park, Connie Rogers was a victim of political interference and low-level sexist bias,” Arturo said, via email. “And as usual, given a choice of the right way and wrong way to end an employment relationship, city officials picked the wrong way.”
Rogers’ lawsuit alleges denial of equal protection based on sexual orientation, sex discrimination under Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, and retaliation under the Georgia Whistleblower Act.
According to the complaint, the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission issued Rogers a notice of right to sue. She is demanding a jury trial. The lawsuit calls for an award of back pay, reinstatement to the chief of police position, front pay in lieu of reinstatement and compensatory damages for emotional distress.
Allegations in the lawsuit include Rogers seeking warrants related to the funds that were paid to Keller Williams.
In July 2025, SaportaReport reported that College Park city attorney Winston Denmark sent a demand letter to Keller Williams brokers Nichole Menzies and Phyllis Minter concerning irregular commission payments processed by BIDA.
Former City Manager Dr. Emanuel Adediran approved the payment, which he said was attached to a contract signed by then-BIDA chair Tracy Wyatt.
During the Oct. 19 city council meeting, as Councilman Roderick Gay motioned to have Wyatt removed from the BIDA board, council members Tracie Arnold and Joe Carn left the Dias, preventing a quorum and a vote.
The lawsuit describes Menzies as an associate of Councilwomen Jamelle McKenzie and Tracie Arnold. It also alleges that Wyatt and Arnold were romantically involved.
A phone call and text to Arnold’s attorney were not returned by publication deadline. City attorney Denmark did not respond to an email requesting comment.
“Nichole Menzies is not my associate,” McKenzie said in a statement. “I reject any attempt to manufacture a personal or political connection between Ms. Menzies and me to imply that I interfered with an investigation or sought to protect anyone from accountability.”
The lawsuit also alleges that Carn directed Adediran to approve the purchase of two golf carts using police department funds. Rogers contends that the purchases were kept below $10,000 to avoid going through her for approval.
Rogers alleges that she reported suspected misuse of public funds to Adediran and his successor, Lindell Miller.
The complaint details several allegations involving McKenzie, including that Rogers was asked to issue arrest warrants against the councilwoman’s political enemies.
The lawsuit says that Rogers believes Councilwoman McKenzie wanted her terminated because the former police chief is married to another woman.
According to the lawsuit, McCrary warned Rogers on Dec. 9, 2025, that she would be terminated the following day and an outside agency would escort her from the premises at McKenzie’s request.
McKenzie says the allegations regarding her in the complaint are false.
“Like any citizen, I have the right to report conduct that I believe may constitute harassment or a threat to my safety,” McKenzie said. “Reporting a concern to law enforcement is not the same as directing police to arrest someone or demanding an unlawful warrant.”
McKenzie added, “I have never asked anyone to misuse police authority for political purposes.”
Arnold, Carn and the city of College Park are also defendants in the separate lawsuit filed Oct. 15 in Fulton County Superior Court.
The former owners of Chelsea Gardens Apartments allege that College Park officials used the city’s code enforcement powers to financially cripple the former owners, force the property into foreclosure and facilitate redevelopment by a new owner who allegedly received preferential treatment from city officials.
So we leaving out a STRONG PART IN THIS WHICH IS THE MAYORS ROLL.
WHY DID THE MAYOR INFORM Tracy Whyatt that Gay wanted to call a order to remove him from BIDA ? THAT CALL MADE CARNS AND ARNOLD LEAVE THE BENCH.