Oconee County Sheriff’s Office Terminates Jailer Over Use of Force Incident

The Oconee County Sheriff’s Office (OCSO) terminated a jailer on June 19, 2024, following an internal review of an incident involving the use of force on May 31, 2024.

The review concluded that the former jailer was unjustified in using a taser during an encounter with an inmate. Although the investigation found no malintent, it determined the actions were not objectively reasonable, did not follow policy, and were inconsistent with taser training.

“OCSO holds all employees to the highest standards, particularly regarding use of force procedures,” said Sheriff James A. Hale Jr. “We take all use of force incidents very seriously, conducting thorough internal reviews to ensure our policies and the law are upheld. When I was notified of the results of this incident, I immediately terminated the employee and contacted the GBI (Georgia Bureau of Investigations) to initiate a separate investigation.”

The investigation is ongoing, and no further details are available at this time. Inquiries regarding the incident should be directed to the GBI Region 11 Field Office.