Clayton County, GA

Jonesboro, GA: (Jun-20-07) Thirty-four sheriff's department employees filed a racial discrimination lawsuit against Clayton County, after they were fired by Sheriff Victor Hill on his first day in office. Deputies summoned the employees to the jail that morning and took their guns and badges. Sheriff's office snipers stood guard on the jail's roof as the 27 of the fired workers were escorted out. Another seven workers later joined the lawsuit, claiming wrongful treatment by Sheriff Hill. Hill, Clayton County's first black sheriff, has said he inherited a dysfunctional organization and the firings were part of a plan to clean up the office. But the workers, most of whom are white, sued the county, claiming they were fired because of their race or because they supported Hill's opponent in the 2004 sheriff's race.

In a settlement reached, the county commission agreed to pay about $7 million to the 34 workers. Officials claim that the money will come from a $5 million county insurance fund and likely from money collected from Fulton County for inmates housed in the Clayton County Jail. [DAILY REPORT: FIRED POLICE OFFICERS]

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Published on Jun-25-07