GAINESVILLE - A judge has upheld a decision to overturn the terminations of two Hall County Sheriff's Deputies, according to information released Tuesday by the Hall County Sheriff's Office.
Deputies Jack Dodd and Larry Henslee were terminated after the July 16, 2013 escape of inmate James Cantrell. The Hall County Civil Service Board decided to overturn those terminations, and the Sheriff's Office appealed that decision in Hall County Superior Court.
The final hearing on the appeal was held March 18, 2015, and the ruling was made March 25, according to a press release from the Sheriff's Office.
The release also said the Board uses an "any evidence" rule and may overturn any termination or adverse action for any reason, regardless of what the evidence in the case shows.
The release noted that Superior Court Judge Robert Adamson agreed that Sheriff Gerald Couch was justified in his termination of the two employees, however, the Civil Service is not bound by the evidence.
Sheriff Couch released the following statement:
“Keeping our community safe and secure is my number one priority. The existing security measures at the Courthouse at the time of the escape had been in place for several years prior without any lapses in security. After the incident we implemented security upgrades which enhanced the overall safety of the Courthouse and continue to make additional improvements as funding allows. However, if your personnel are complacent, inattentive, and/or negligent upgrades are meaningless.”
Judge Adamson determined he could not reverse the overturning.
Dodd and Henslee are entitled to back pay and positions with the Hall County Government.
