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Bolton states his case
Former top cop testifies in hearing

by Brian Egeston
be@brianwrites.com

Three days of testimony was not enough time to conclude whether former DeKalb County Police Chief Terrell Bolton was justifiably terminated by DeKalb County CEO Burrell Ellis.
Bolton’s attorney William McKenney spent more than an hour questioning his client. As the 5 p.m. deadline approached, it was clear there wouldn’t be sufficient time for DeKalb County’s attorney Howard Indermark to cross examine Bolton. A continuation has been scheduled for a later date.

Much of Bolton’s defense was based the former chief’s claim that the CEO planned to usurp his authority by implementing an open door policy. McKenney explained that Bolton’s termination was mishandled and unjustified when Bolton was “ambushed by sheriff’s deputies” before a meeting with Ellis. Bolton also talked about his ailments during the time of his termination. Bolton seemed distressed when he explained that while at a Dallas hospital he was diagnosed with severe diabetes. His glucose level was 800, and Bolton said he nearly went into renal failure.

Bolton’s health however, is not at issue. Instead he’s accused of misusing county property and using excessive comp time. Former DeKalb County CEO Vernon Jones testified that all of Bolton’s 2008 comp time was approved by his office. Bolton took almost five months in comp time in two years and traveled frequently back home to Texas while serving as DeKalb County Chief of Police.

Much of the witness testimony focused on Bolton’s acquisition of seized drug vehicles. Major Christopher Craddock testified that Bolton’s daughter saw a luxury Range Rover that Craddock was driving and two days later, Bolton took possession of the vehicle. Weeks later, Bolton took possession of a seized Mercedes.

Indermark asked witnesses from the police force why an officer would drive luxury vehicles and all responded by saying that luxury vehicles were used for undercover police work, which Bolton has yet to claim that he did. Bolton has filed an EEOC grievance stating that he was terminated because of his illness.

Phyllis R. Williams, a lawyer who practices in Decatur, is serving as the hearing officer. She was expected to issue a ruling 20 days after the hearing concluded but asked attorneys for Bolton and the county to allow her 30 days to give a ruling.