Council upholds firing of chief

Alan Mauldin

June 22, 2009 11:36 pm

— DOERUN — Following a brief appeal hearing Monday, Doerun City Council agreed to uphold its dismissal of former Police Chief Randy Hill by a 4-1 margin.
Council members Richard Bridwell, Mike Campbell, George Saunders and Don Senkbeil cast votes to deny Hill’s appeal, with council member Donald Irvin opposed.
Hill was dismissed June 12.
The council did not give any explanation for the firing, but in his opening remarks Mayor Wade Ethridge referenced a “lack of cooperation” with other law enforcement agencies.
“It is with a great deal of regret the decision has been made to terminate Mr. Hill,” Ethridge said. “There are significant management issues with the department.”
The Colquitt County Sheriff’s Department has not had any issues with Hill, Sheriff Al Whittington said during a telephone interview Monday afternoon.
“Not that I know of,” he said. “We always got along with Randy. I like Randy. He’s a good guy.”
Hill told council members that he has received calls of support from a number of law enforcement agencies, including the sheriffs in Mitchell and Worth counties. In two days a petition supporting Hill has received nearly 400 signatures, he said.
Mitchell County Sheriff W.E. Bozeman did not return a telephone call Monday.
“I’ve been with the Cty of Doerun nearly 26 years, never had a written or verbal reprimand,” Hill told the council. “If there are things that came to your attention, I feel you have not given me the courtesy I would have given you. I guess what’s hurt me the most is you haven’t given me the same courtesy I would have given you.”
Alice Slocumb, one of about 40 people who attended the Monday morning hearing, said that the public and Hill deserve an explanation. She was called on by Hill to address the council.
“We don’t know as a city and taxpayers what’s going on,” she said. “That’s what we feel is the most pressing issue in the situation. We need to know what’s going on.”
When Hill asked another resident to speak, City Attorney Tommy Coleman said that the meeting was not a public hearing but an opportunity for Hill to present any evidence on his behalf.
“I rule that out of order,” Coleman said of having the resident speak.
In a letter of dismissal given to Hill on June 12, the city said that Hill was an “at-will” employee and that the city’s personnel policy does not require that he be given an explanation for his firing.
The letter said that he was immediately relieved of his duties as police chief and would be paid through June 26.
Hill notified the city last week that he wished to appeal his dismissal.
Following the meeting Hill said he feels he did a “pretty decent job” for the city.
“Bottom line is, I always felt like I worked for the citizens,” he said. “That’s what my effort has been centered on. I think that was apparent today and with the petition. Numerous people called me. They were elderly and couldn’t come to the meeting.”
Of the nearly 400 signatures on the petition, Hill said, not all were Doerun residents but those who were not live nearby and do business in the city.
Doerun has a population of about 840.
After the meeting Ethridge and Coleman said that the city has a six-month period in which to select a new chief.
“We’re going to go ahead and as expeditiously as possible, we’re going to start advertising,” Ethridge said.