The Atlantic Beach Town Council is seeking censure of Mayor Pro Tem John David Jr. in a special council meeting on Monday, March 16.

Town officials released the upcoming agenda on Wednesday, March 11. In the third item of new business, Resolution No. 1-2026 is a resolution of the Town Council of the Town of Atlantic Beach censuring Mayor Pro Tem John David Jr. for violation of the Council-Manager Form of Government.

The resolution states that under the Council-Manager form of government pursuant to South Carolina Code of Laws 5-13-90 and Town of Atlantic Beach Charter dated June 30, 1966, which vest legislative authority in the Town Council  and executive and administrative authority exclusively to the town manager.

Adrian Jones became the town manager back in July 2025.

David, in a telephone interview with MyHorryNews, believes the censure resolution is in retaliation for him requesting a SLED investigation regarding the turnover in the town’s police force. The town currently has no officers since the latest chief, Joseph F. Cooper, resigned in February after just over two months on the job.

“I requested a SLED investigation over everything that has happened, the four police officers, all the staff and contractors that have been harassed, and myself,” David said. “I filed a request for investigation on Feb. 3 and I was in a meeting on [Feb. 16]. They threatened to censure me and fire the police chief.

“After that, the next meeting on [March 2] they illegally read off a resolution that wasn’t on the agenda. You can see the people moving back and forth shuffling papers. That was not suppose to be done, all of a sudden they were doing it. It basically seems like a coverup for Mr. Jones.”

There was no resolution for censuring David in the March 2 meeting agenda.

Cooper reportedly resigned on Feb. 16 in a letter to Jones, David, council members and town residents.

MyHorryNews has requested Atlantic Beach provide a copy of Cooper’s resignation letter.