Commission votes to add complaint to Ethics Commission over deputy’s use of county vehicle

The Geneva County Commission on Feb. 9 voted to submit a complaint to the Alabama Ethics Commission alleging misuse of a county vehicle by a Geneva County deputy.

Commissioner Weston Spivey presented photographs he said showed a county sheriff vehicle parked at the Taylor Police Department and said he had received resident reports that deputies had used county vehicles for personal errands outside Geneva County. "These vehicles have been seen at various grocery stores and movie theatres not in Geneva County," Spivey said, urging action to protect county property.

County Attorney Phil Eldridge and Chairman Toby Seay relayed the Sheriff’s explanation that the deputy had been assigned to be on call due to staffing shortages on the east end of the county and was permitted to use the county vehicle while working at the Taylor Police Department because the deputy lives on the west end and could be called back. Commissioner Jeff Hatcher questioned how the officer could be simultaneously on duty for Taylor and on call for the county and said the arrangement raised ethics concerns about using county property for private gain.

Commissioner Spivey moved to submit the complaint to the Alabama Ethics Commission as an addition to a prior filing. Commissioner Todd Brannon abstained from the vote; the motion carried 3-0. Attorney Eldridge noted that an Ethics Commission complaint must identify individuals with firsthand knowledge when submitted.

The commission directed staff to check GPS tracking records for county vehicles and discussed prior terminations of two EMA directors arising from similar complaints. No disciplinary action against the deputy was recorded in the minutes; the vote initiated the formal Ethics Commission process.