Clayton panel to investigate sexual harassment among cops

A special committee will investigate allegations of sexual harassment in the Clayton County Police Department.

The Clayton County Commission appointed the committee Tuesday night after learning a police officer had admitted to kissing, fondling and making inappropriate comments to a recruit during a job interview.

Police Chief Jeffrey Turner demoted the officer from a sergeant to a patrol officer and docked him $15,000 in pay. The recruit filed a complaint with the commission, saying she was not pleased by the chief’s action.

“There has been a great deal of disagreement over that action taken by the chief of police,” Commission Chairman Eldrin Bell announced Tuesday.

Since then, the commission has received several other complaints of sexual harassment committed by other Clayton officers.

The review committee — comprised of Bell, the county’s personnel director and the chief — will look at the recruit’s case and other allegations. The committee can overturn the chief’s decision, county attorney Michael Smith said.

“We will ask them to speak to a number of persons in the department — females — to make sure the reputation of this board is kept thoroughly intact,” Bell told the commission. “While this was a person from the outside (who filed the complaint), I did have calls from persons — female officers — on the inside who are very concerned. … This will be ongoing and very thorough.”