Georgia governor won’t suspend sheriff elected despite a felony indictment

ATLANTA – When Victor Hill was elected as sheriff of Clayton County, he appeared to make
history. It was “the first time in modern history that anyone has ever been elected sheriff in Georgia while
under indictment for felony crimes,” according to the Georgia Sheriffs’ Association.

Hill was elected as Clayton County sheriff in 2004, but was ousted after one term. Hill’s tenure was
controversial from the start after he fired 27 deputies on his first day in office, a move that was later settled in
court.

Hill has since lost his certification as a law enforcement officer, meaning he can’t arrest anyone personally.
And, his legal problems grew in February when he was indicted on a spate of corruption charges stemming
from his time in office.

However, it didn’t affect his standing with voters: He defeated former Sheriff Kem Kimbrough, the man who
ousted Hill four years earlier, in a Democratic primary last year and ran unopposed in November’s general
election.

But, Gov. Nathan Deal, a Republican, will not suspend Hill, skirting a potential political and legal showdown
over the matter.