DeKalb jail detention officer fired for excessive use of force

DECATUR—The DeKalb County Sheriff’s Office reports that today (Jan. 4) it  terminated an employee who violated the agency’s Use of Force policy.

Sheriff Melody Maddox said the detention officer was placed on immediate administrative leave on Dec. 30, 2020, following an incident on Dec. 28, 2020 involving excessive uses of force with an inmate. An investigation by the agency’s Office of Professional Standards (OPS) upheld charges that the officer’s actions were “unjustified, inappropriate and not consistent with the agency’s training to achieve the objectives of compliance and restraint.”

“We will not tolerate any violation of policy regarding the use of excessive force with inmates in our custody,” said Sheriff Maddox. “Our recent citizen review of the Use of Force Policy and the subsequent revisions we made to this policy underscore that commitment.”

The officer had received basic and advanced Use of Force training each year since being employed in 2018. The dismissal charges the officer with “Excessive Use of Force and Conduct Unbecoming,” and an appeal to the termination can be filed.