DeKalb Times

DeKalb County Sheriff's Merit Commission met Dec. 8.

Here are the minutes provided by the commission:

The Merit Commission met in the Sheriff’s Situation Room at the DeKalb County Sheriff’s Office.

I. Call to Order

Chairman Todd Walker called the meeting to order at 5:00 PM on Dec. 8, 2021.

II. Roll Call

Commissioners present at the meeting were: Chairman Todd Walker, Commissioner Anita Turner, and Secretary Bryan Perry. Also present was Sheriff Andy Sullivan.

III. Approval of Agenda

Todd Walker called for the approval of the agenda. Anita Turner moved and Bryan Perry seconded. All voted Yes. Motion passed.

IV. Approval of Minutes

Minutes from the previous meeting held 10/12/2021 were reviewed by Commissioners. Chairman Todd Walker called for approval of those minutes. Motion for approval was made by Bryan Perry and seconded by Anita Turner. All were in favor. Motion passed.

V. Public Comment

Though it was an open public meeting, no audience was present.

VI. Correspondence

Sheriff Sullivan delivered a sealed envelope containing the sheriff points to be awarded for the Patrol Lieutenant’s Assessment Center.

VII. Potential Lateral Transfer Request

Sheriff Sullivan updated the Merit Commission where we are in the hiring process. Sheriff Sullivan advised for the Corrections Division so far, we have hired 3 people (Delaney Cotton, Oscar Anaya (lateral transfer), Meagan Near (current FOIA Secretary, will move once secretary position is filled)) and Darius House will be transferring from the Communications Division to the Corrections Division for a total of 4 candidates. We still have 4 openings in the Corrections Division. Sgt. Stevenson is leaving at the end of the month and Dawn Cook is retiring in January.

Sheriff Sullivan requested a current DeKalb County part-time Corrections Officer be moved to a full-time Corrections Deputy, there are also 3 other Corrections employees from other agencies that have submitted lateral application requests. The first applicant has passed the background and is waiting on psych and polygraph exams, the other two applicants have not begun the background/psych or polygraph and pending the outcome of those tests, Sheriff Sullivan has requested they be approved as lateral transfer hires. Chairman Todd Walker asked for a motion to approve the Sheriff’s request of 4 lateral hires provided they pass all required tests (background, psych, polygraph). Bryan Perry made a motion to approve, Anita Turner seconded. All were in favor. Motion passed.

VIII. Future Testing -Communications/Corrections

Sheriff Sullivan advised the Commission that we have hired (2) new Telecommunicators from the last round of testing, Melissa Jacob to start next week and Alexandra Bridge to start in the beginning of January. We still have two open positions in Communications due to the vacancy of Darius House moving to Corrections along with another open slot. Sheriff Sullivan advised we will need to conduct another round of testing to fill those spots. Lt. Bomar can conduct the written test, once we establish who passed the written, we will need to pick a date to conduct interviews.

Sheriff Sullivan advised the Commission that Corrections Candidate, Lacy Searcy has withdrawn from the hiring process. The Sheriff has requested we also conduct another round of testing to establish a Corrections/Patrol eligibility list and was looking for dates when the Commission would be available for written test and interviews.

IX. Promotional Testing Update

Sheriff Sullivan gave the Commission a promotional testing update. On Monday 12/06/21 Chairman Todd Walker conducted the written test for Corrections Sergeant. Sheriff Sullivan advised one candidate did not show up and only one individual passed the written test. That candidate is moving onto the next phase which is the assessment center scheduled for December 18, 2021. On Tuesday 12/07/21 Chairman Todd Walker conducted the written test for Detective/Patrol Sergeant. The tests were overnighted to Stanard & Associates. We do not yet have the results however, those who receive a 70% or above will pass and move onto the next phase, being the assessment center on December 18, 2021 which will begin at 8:00 AM.

X. Old Business – None

XI. New Business – None

XII. Executive Session – Assessment Center

The Commission broke into executive session to conduct the Patrol Lieutenant Assessment Center.

The Commission exited Executive Session with all three Merit Commissioners present. Chairman Todd Walker called for a motion to leave executive session. Anita Turner made the motion, Bryan Perry seconded. All were in favor, motion passed.

XIII. Adjournment

The Commission reentered regular session and with no further business to discuss Chairman Walker called for a motion to adjourn at 7:48 PM. Bryan Perry made the motion which was seconded by Anita Turner. On a unanimous voice vote, the meeting was adjourned.

https://dekalbcounty.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/02/minutes-smc-12082021.pdf