Full Notification

I am disappointed to announce that three of my Deputies who hold the rank of Sargeant, Leiutenant, and Captain handled the murder that occurred at the Oasis in a manner that is not in accordance with the standards of the Clayton County Sheriff’s Office.  

While my special forces did a excellent job capturing the murder suspect within 48 hours, there were inactions by some of my personnel that was unacceptable.  Two of my Deputies who hold the rank of Captain and Sergeant were at the location working in an off duty status without agency approval.  When the altercation began to occur, a citizen asked them to come inside and respond to it.   When they came inside and the fatal shot was fired, both Deputies turned around and fled out of the door along with the fleeing crowd.  To make matters worse, both of them failed to render aid to the victim.  Later when a Sheriff’s Office Leiutenant arrived on the scene and was made aware of their cowardly behavior, he failed to make proper notification to the command staff.

The Sheriff’s Office has a constitutional duty to protect that is mandated by law. Therefore, there is no excuse that is acceptable for this malfeasance of duty.  

Tomorrow morning, the Sergeant  and Captain will both be fired. They will not be allowed to resign.  Once the investigative file is complete, it will be sent to the District Attorney’s Office for determination of prosecution. The Leiutenant who failed to make proper notification about their inaction has been demoted two ranks down to a Deputy, and has  also been removed from field operations.  Everything within my power to rectify this situation has been done expeditiously without hesitation.  

It is the practice of the Clayton County Sheriff’s Office not to engage the media’s sensationalism and antics.  Instead we take extreme ownership, we act, we inform the public of our actions, and we stay focus on the mission of fighting crime.  I ask that you all continue to support all of the rest of my amazing Deputies who continue daily a magnificent job of running criminals out of Clayton County.

Sheriff Victor Hill