A police chief in suburban Atlanta resigned Wednesday before a grand jury decides whether to charge him with a misdemeanor crime for accidentally shooting his sleeping wife after drinking alcohol and taking sleep medication , officials said . Police Chief William McCollom called 911 early New Year 's Day to report accidentally shooting his ex-wife , Margaret , as the couple slept in their bed . A prosecutor plans to seek a misdemeanor charge — but not a felony — against McCollom . Resignation : Police Chief William McCollom resigned from his position in the Peachtree City Police Wednesday . The couple divorced in 1999 and later reunited . ' I have had had two families in Peachtree City - my police family and my personal family , ' McCollom said in a statement published on the city 's website . 'In light of the recent tragedy in my personal family , I need to continue to focus my time and efforts there . ' Griffin Judicial Circuit District Attorney Scott Ballard has said the shooting left Margaret McCollom paralyzed below the waist . He said last week that Margaret is being treated for the paralysis at a spinal cord rehabilitation center . The chief told investigators he drank alcohol and took medication to help him sleep . McCollom had a loaded handgun under the sheets . 'The gun was in the bed , I went to move it , and I put it to a side and it went off , ' McCollom told a dispatcher , according to a recording of the call . Paralyzed : The Jan. 1 shooting left McCollom 's wife , Margaret , paralyzed from the waist down . Search : The city will begin searching for a new Chief of Police immediately and Captain Stan Pye will fill the position in the interim , as he has been serving as Acting Chief of Police since January 1 . An investigation into the incident found that barking dogs woke McCollom from his sleep in the middle of the night , CNN reports . McCollom got up , grabbed his Glock 9mm gun -- his service gun -- and checked the house . When McCollom returned to bed he placed the gun under the sheets . A forensic analysis confirmed that the gun had been fired from under the sheets and a wound on MCollom 's right hand confirmed that his palm blocked a spent shell from leaving the gun , according to CNN . Ballard said investigators found no evidence that McCollom intended to harm Margaret . However , the prosecutor said the shooting could have been avoided . He plans to ask a grand jury to charge McCollom with reckless conduct 'since the chief took a loaded gun to bed with him after ingesting alcohol and sleep medication . ' Reckless Conduct : A prosecutor plans to ask a grand jury to charge McCollom with reckless conduct 'since the chief took a loaded gun to bed with him after ingesting alcohol and sleep medication ' McCollom and his attorney did not immediately return messages seeking comment . The city will begin searching for a new Chief of Police immediately , FOX reports . Captain Stan Pye will fill the position in the interim , as he has been serving as Acting Chief of Police since January 1 . Prior to moving to Peachtree City , McCollom served as police chief in Tequesta , Florida , and as assistant chief in Delray Beach , Florida . He started his law enforcement career in Wyoming . Court records show McCollom has divorced four times , including once from Margaret McCollom . None of his divorce filings or police personnel files describe any instances of violence or recklessness .
Police Chief William McCollom resigned from his position in the Peachtree City Police Wednesday . The chief was accused of using a police car to run over and kill an unarmed black man who had been stopped for jaywalking.