Post by Oscar Knight on Nov 3, 2012 21:22:17 GMT -6
By Kathy Jefcoats
Hill is a native of Charleston, S.C., and got his start in law enforcement there. He hired on at the Charleston Police Department in 1983 and stayed four years. Officials there said Hill left the department on his own. South Carolina requires personnel records be kept five years so his file is gone.
#From 1987 to 1989, he worked for the North Charleston Police Department. According to his application to the Clayton County Police Department, Hill left there for the Charleston Sheriff’s Office for “more money and a company car.”
#Hill was fired after 14 months. As allowed under law, his personnel file was destroyed. When he applied to the Clayton police department, Hill stated he was fired “as a result of a personality difference that I could not resolve.”
However, when Hill came to Georgia in 1990 and couldn’t get a job in law enforcement because he’d been fired, he hired an attorney. That attorney contacted the Charleston sheriff and outlined Hill’s response to the 13 incidents that allegedly formed the basis for his termination.
#The grounds were:
#• Increased unserved warrants, and incomplete and unorganized paperwork
#• Unofficial visit to establishment serving alcohol in cruiser with weapon on his person
#• Failure to use restraints while transporting a prisoner
#• Citizen’s complaint alleging Hill drove recklessly on I-26 at 85-90 mph while transporting a prisoner to Columbia, S.C.
#• Citizen’s complaint alleging Hill operated a siren and blue light during rush hour traffic
#• Having a dirty weapon at the firing range
#• Non-official visit with inmate at county jail
#• Late response to assigned location
#• Complaints relative to stopped vehicles and use of blue lights
#• Supervisor’s request to have Hill transferred out of unit after Hill failed to try to serve a domestic abuse suspect and because of his attitude and work habits
#• Being absent without leave when he failed to report to work until he was awakened by a call from his supervisor
#• Gross insubordination, failure to respond to specific questions relative to failure to report for duty
#• His probationary period was extended due to poor evaluation.
#Hill was fired March 7, 1990. The attorney’s letter reiterates the reason being “a determination that he was a disruptive influence on the operations of the office in spite of numerous warnings, and his constant insinuations that all others about him are lying and that there is a conspiracy against him.”
#Hill either denied or explained the allegations, according to the letter. The letter ends with a request to let Hill “resign.”
#“If you could allow Hill to ‘resign’ and perhaps reconsider some of the incidents detailed herein, ultimately leading to a more favorable recommendation, Hill would be most appreciative,” stated the letter.
#Hill worked as mall security in DeKalb County while he sought a job in law enforcement. That opportunity came in 1992, when he was accepted as a reserve officer with Lake City Police Department.
#At the same time, his application with the Clayton department was accepted and he began certification as a Georgia police officer. He took his oath of office July 20, 1992, with the police department.
#Hill apparently rebounded in Georgia. He made a good first impression on members of the Clayton County hiring review board, all of whom gave him the high marks that contributed to his getting the job. He was promoted to detective in two years and became a hostage negotiator.
#He ran for and was elected state representative in 2002 but at the time admitted to “squabbling” with supervisors in the department. Evaluations showed his work quality and quantity diminished. Hill alleged he was being harassed by officers with whom he had personality clashes.
#He quit the police department in 2004 after winning the sheriff’s race. He lost a re-election bid in 2008.
#Now four years later, Hill is back at it, hoping to regain his former glory, albeit while tainted by felony charges he abused and misused the office of sheriff.
Hill is a native of Charleston, S.C., and got his start in law enforcement there. He hired on at the Charleston Police Department in 1983 and stayed four years. Officials there said Hill left the department on his own. South Carolina requires personnel records be kept five years so his file is gone.
#From 1987 to 1989, he worked for the North Charleston Police Department. According to his application to the Clayton County Police Department, Hill left there for the Charleston Sheriff’s Office for “more money and a company car.”
#Hill was fired after 14 months. As allowed under law, his personnel file was destroyed. When he applied to the Clayton police department, Hill stated he was fired “as a result of a personality difference that I could not resolve.”
However, when Hill came to Georgia in 1990 and couldn’t get a job in law enforcement because he’d been fired, he hired an attorney. That attorney contacted the Charleston sheriff and outlined Hill’s response to the 13 incidents that allegedly formed the basis for his termination.
#The grounds were:
#• Increased unserved warrants, and incomplete and unorganized paperwork
#• Unofficial visit to establishment serving alcohol in cruiser with weapon on his person
#• Failure to use restraints while transporting a prisoner
#• Citizen’s complaint alleging Hill drove recklessly on I-26 at 85-90 mph while transporting a prisoner to Columbia, S.C.
#• Citizen’s complaint alleging Hill operated a siren and blue light during rush hour traffic
#• Having a dirty weapon at the firing range
#• Non-official visit with inmate at county jail
#• Late response to assigned location
#• Complaints relative to stopped vehicles and use of blue lights
#• Supervisor’s request to have Hill transferred out of unit after Hill failed to try to serve a domestic abuse suspect and because of his attitude and work habits
#• Being absent without leave when he failed to report to work until he was awakened by a call from his supervisor
#• Gross insubordination, failure to respond to specific questions relative to failure to report for duty
#• His probationary period was extended due to poor evaluation.
#Hill was fired March 7, 1990. The attorney’s letter reiterates the reason being “a determination that he was a disruptive influence on the operations of the office in spite of numerous warnings, and his constant insinuations that all others about him are lying and that there is a conspiracy against him.”
#Hill either denied or explained the allegations, according to the letter. The letter ends with a request to let Hill “resign.”
#“If you could allow Hill to ‘resign’ and perhaps reconsider some of the incidents detailed herein, ultimately leading to a more favorable recommendation, Hill would be most appreciative,” stated the letter.
#Hill worked as mall security in DeKalb County while he sought a job in law enforcement. That opportunity came in 1992, when he was accepted as a reserve officer with Lake City Police Department.
#At the same time, his application with the Clayton department was accepted and he began certification as a Georgia police officer. He took his oath of office July 20, 1992, with the police department.
#Hill apparently rebounded in Georgia. He made a good first impression on members of the Clayton County hiring review board, all of whom gave him the high marks that contributed to his getting the job. He was promoted to detective in two years and became a hostage negotiator.
#He ran for and was elected state representative in 2002 but at the time admitted to “squabbling” with supervisors in the department. Evaluations showed his work quality and quantity diminished. Hill alleged he was being harassed by officers with whom he had personality clashes.
#He quit the police department in 2004 after winning the sheriff’s race. He lost a re-election bid in 2008.
#Now four years later, Hill is back at it, hoping to regain his former glory, albeit while tainted by felony charges he abused and misused the office of sheriff.