SHEILA A. MATHEWS ::: A federal racial discrimination law suit filed Jan. 9, 2015, by Dwayne Jones and Terry Brock against the city of Griffin and Griffin City Manager Kenny Smith is under appeal after a summary judgment was issued after the court determined the plaintiffs “failed to establish a genuine issue of material fact […]
Federal racial discrimination lawsuit against city of Griffin, City Manager Kenny Smith closed
David Gibson accuser subject of new SCSO IA case
SHEILA A. MATHEWS ::: Through an Open Records request, The GRIP has obtained the final report of a Spalding County Sheriff’s Office Internal Affairs investigation that resulted from a formal complaint involving numerous allegations of wrongdoing – including sexual harassment – filed against Deputy Jessica Kelley by Deputy Catherine Lewis. In turn, Kelley filed a […]
EEOC: Sheriff Beam was aware of sexually hostile work environment, failed to take corrective action

SHEILA A. MATHEWS ::: The Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) has completed its investigation into complaints filed by five female employees of the Spalding County Sheriff’s Office and released its findings regarding allegations against David Gibson, former captain of the Uniform Patrol Division, and Sheriff Wendell Beam, both of whom are being sued in their […]
City denies GPD racial discrimination allegation in “strongest possible terms”
SHEILA MATHEWS ::: Two former officers of the Griffin Police Department – Dwayne Jones and Terry Brock – have retained legal counsel and allege city officials wrongfully terminated their employment based on racial discrimination. Both long-term employees of the city of Griffin, their employment was terminated Jan. 31 as part of the GPD restructuring recommended […]
Attorney on GPD restructuring: the only men left standing were black
SHEILA MATHEWS ::: Attorneys representing two former officers of the Griffin Police Department have issued a letter of demand to city officials, alleging the recent GPD restructuring illegally resulted in their clients’ termination of employment based on racial discrimination. The Grip has obtained a copy of the letter submitted to City Manager Kenny Smith from […]