Post by Oscar Knight on Jan 30, 2011 19:12:04 GMT -6
Last Updated On: 12/17/2008 6:52:40 PM
CLAYTON COUNTY, Ga. -- He has rarely been seen since losing his battle for re-election in the primaries back in August. That is when Clayton County Sheriff Victor Hill seemed to disappear.
Members of the Sheriff's Office say they haven't seen him come to work since the election. He hasn't given any interviews to the media since losing.
On Tuesday, 11Alive's Jaye Watson went to Hill's home and knocked on the door. He asked who was at the door and Watson identified herself. Hill would not open the door. Earlier that same day, Hill's secretary said he was in the office that day although Hill's personal parking space was empty.
Watson contacted the governor's office. Back in September, Gov. Sonny Perdue appointed a three-person panel to investigate claims that Hill had vacated his office. The panel was led by Attorney General Thurbert Baker.
Two weeks later, the panel returned the results of their report saying they found "Hill did not vacate his office."
Included in the report, phone records of calls Hill made with his cell phone on official business after the election, personnel and staff changes Hill made after the election, and various mundane duties Hill says he attended to, after the election.
The report included an affidavit from Hill in which he said that after taking some vacation after losing the election.
The affidavit included a statement from Hill that said, "I resumed my regular duties as Sheriff and came to the office on the same schedule as I did before the runoff election. I have been regularly and consistently engaged in managing the CCSO and its activities."
Last week, 11Alive News interviewed Hill's former Chief Deputy John Gibson. Gibson told 11Alive Hill barely came to his office after the election, but in the report Gibson gave an affidavit in which he claimed, "Sheriff Hill resumed his regular duties as Sheriff and was present in the office on the same schedule as he had before the runoff election."
In a telephone interview with 11Alive News, Gibson defended his affidavit saying that Hill did not come to his office after the election but did make decisions over the phone. Gibson told 11Alive News Hill barely came to his office before the election. Hill fired Gibson last week, Gibson alleges because he wouldn't secretly tape phone conversations with incoming Sheriff Elect Kem Kimbrough.
Watson contacted the Clayton County attorney, the Commissioner's Office, the Georgia Sheriff's Association and the Governor's office. All replied there would be no further recourse because the panel found that Hill did not "vacate his office."
A spokesman for the Sheriff's Association says the group hopes to make some changes through the state legislature that would allow them to remove Sheriffs who aren't doing their jobs.
Hill has refused all interviews. There is a for sale sign in his front yard. No word what his plans are after his term ends on December 31.