New Clayton Sheriff cleans house!

[Norm357]

wsbtv.com reports...

New Clayton County Sheriff Fires 14 Deputies
Friday, January 2, 2009 – updated: 6:27 am EST January 2, 2009
CLAYTON COUNTY, Ga. -- On his first day on the job Thursday new Clayton County Sheriff Kem Kimbrough fired 14 deputies.
Kimbrough said the firings were part of his campaign promise to clean up the department, but some of the fired deputies said they were targeted because of their connection to former Sheriff Victor Hill.
I was fired because of my affiliation with Victor Hill," insisted former Deputy Edward Hobbs.
Kimbrough said he fired Hobbs because Hobbs has a criminal record.
"I don't know this guy, I don't care about this guy, but he is a criminal, a thug," said Kimbrough.
Kimbrough told Channel 2 Action News he's instituted a new code of conduct built on the foundation of integrity and honesty.
"Victor (Hill) hired outcasts, thugs and rejects from every agency," Kimbrough said.
The new sheriff said as long as he wears the badge, "accountability will be the buzz word."
On his first day in office in January 2005, Hill fired 34 deputies, most of them white, and posted snipers on the courthouse roof as he escorted them out of the building -- a move that cost the county more than $7 million to settle lawsuits arising from the action

[mtaylor]

I would be interested to see Hobbs criminal record. As far putting snipers on the roof after you fire a deputy is a bit overkill in my opinion.

[Norm357]

I would be interested to see Hobbs criminal record. As far putting snipers on the roof after you fire a deputy is a bit overkill in my opinion.

Hobbs was convicted of domestic violence/family battery. If you don't know the back story on Hill, google him. Please.

[Norm357]

http://link.brightcove.com/services/...ctid6246751001

Better info at the above video link.

[mtaylor]

I looked up Hill and all I can say is wow! That man should without a doubt face jail time if at all possible.

[Rhino]

Victor Hill is definately a shady character. I don't know much about Kimbrough, but so far he's aces. We have too many thugs with badges in the metro Atlanta area.

[MacLean]

I would be interested to see Hobbs criminal record. As far putting snipers on the roof after you fire a deputy is a bit overkill in my opinion.

It was the former crooked Sheriff that did that, not the new one.

[Cidp24]

I realize this is a bigger agency but here, it is not at all uncommon for the whole department to get fired when a new sheriff goes in. It's not as bad as it used to be but it still happens.

[Rhino]

Hence the phrase "There's a new Sheriff in town."

[ChesCopPodz]

And why (and I mean no offense to any deputies here) I would never work for a SO.

[Norm357]

I realize this is a bigger agency but here, it is not at all uncommon for the whole department to get fired when a new sheriff goes in. It's not as bad as it used to be but it still happens.

Clayton County Deputies are covered under the state Merit System. They cannot be fired without cause. One of only two S.O.s in the state that cover their employees. The other being Forsyth County.

I learned this afternoon that several of the newly fires Deputies had never been to the police academy. They were just given a badge and a gun and put on special squads like the Cobra Unit and Hills personal security detail. State law says that you have to be P.O.S.T. certified within a year of your hire date.

[Captain America]

And why (and I mean no offense to any deputies here) I would never work for a SO.

Ditto

[pac201]

And why (and I mean no offense to any deputies here) I would never work for a SO.

I've worked for both SO and PD, way down here in dixieland you just ain't got much protection...

[MacLean]

Deputies here are civil service and union or guild. You gotta kill somebody to get fired.

[jcsdscott]

My SO has the FOP so we're protected, you have to do something really wrong to get fired