Deputy Firings Explained by Other Media

From http://www.mapinc.org/drugnews/v08/n1130/a08.html

Real School Police Comments in Red

ROTTEN APPLES
Camden County's new sheriff right to give some deputies their walking papers.
When a law enforcement officer swears to uphold Georgia's laws, that officer must be willing to live up to that oath, even if it endangers the officer's job. (The oath something everyone has forgotten about all these deputies, they took an oath to the state, county, and the Sheriff's office, NOT THE SHERIFF HIMSELF. They had a duty to report Smith's wrongdoing)
That's why Camden County Sheriff-elect Tommy Gregory is to be commended for holding the command staff of ousted Sheriff Bill Smith to account for their failure to stand up to their old boss. Mr. Gregory has fired 27 sheriff's office employees effective Jan. 4; a drastic measure that's necessary in light of leadership issues at the coastal Georgia department. Years of news reports have detailed Sheriff Smith's use of inmate labor to do favors for private groups and individuals. The Florida Times-Union, our sister newspaper, even reports that the outgoing sheriff used inmates, paid through seized assets, to build himself a hunting lodge south of Woodbine. (And shown exclusively right here)
Where was jail administrator Jim Proctor at the time of such wrongdoing? Also, why didn't Mr. Proctor call a halt to the practice of using inmates accused or convicted of everything from rape and murder to child molestation in off-site work details? (He was to busy ushering inmates in and out of his office window)
Sheriff Smith displayed a warped preference for employees with a checkered past. He hired an officer who had been fired from another department after stalking an ex-girlfriend. (I wonder who that was) He rehired a deputy two months after the officer was videotaped beating an unarmed suspect after a high-speed chase. Chief financial officer Wanda Easterling, once caught Christmas shopping on a county credit card, was allowed to maintain her shoddy watch over the sheriff's office accounts. (I think they mean Gina Evanson, but the CFO allowed it)Perhaps keeping her job was worth overlooking the sheriff's use of assets seized from arrests on I-95 - by one estimate up to $20 million during his time in office - as a political slush fund.
While state law requires the seized assets to be used only for law enforcement purposes, Sheriff Smith apparently handed out cash to local groups like a parade marshal throws candy, according to published reports. (published here)
The department's accountant also should have questioned the purchase of 11 boats and two jet skis. Does Camden County truly need such a navy? Ms. Easterling had a duty to local taxpayers to ensure the tax dollars spent providing work details and the assets seized through drug enforcement went to a public use, not political favors. (Boston Butt for Sears campaign)
While Sheriff Smith is the subject of a Georgia Bureau of Investigation probe and a federal grand jury investigation, he has not been accused of any crime. The GBI bull's eye, however, has been painted only on Mr. Smith's back - his underlings have thus far escaped notice.(Once the FEDS start hauling these guys in the will sing sing sing, if Smith doesn't blame them first.) That does not mean they are not culpable for failing to live up to their responsibilities as public servants.
Newly elected Sheriff Tommy Gregory campaigned on a promise to clean up the department by clearing out the suspect elements, or as he put it, "the bad apples." After this pruning, the Camden County Sheriff's Office should yield better fruit. (Good job thus far Tommy)
MAP posted-by: Larry Seguin