Confusion reigns over DeKalb police chief

Confusion reigned atop the DeKalb County police chain of command Tuesday when the county’s chief executive officer issued a statement that Police Chief Terrell Bolton would be on leave “until further notice,” but Bolton said he would return to work Monday.

Reached by phone in Dallas, where his family lives, Bolton said he was diagnosed with diabetes Monday. He said he had returned to Dallas hoping to see his long-time physician, but he had to go the hospital Saturday when his condition worsened. He was hospitalized until Monday.

Bolton said he was not aware of the announcement Tuesday from DeKalb CEO Burrell Ellis.

In a written statement, Ellis said Karen A. Anderson would be acting chief. Ellis, Bolton’s boss, also announced that Keisha Williams, an assistant director for community policing and frequent spokeswoman for Bolton, was on leave.

In a news conference later Tuesday, Ellis said he knew Bolton was on medical leave through the week. Ellis said he had planned to meet with Bolton on Monday for his first major talk with the chief since becoming CEO in January, but Bolton canceled and delivered the news about his health.

There was no reason given for Williams’ leave. Williams’ cellphone was not accepting calls Tuesday. Ellis said at his news conference that she requested the leave and that he didn’t know when she would return.

Ellis’ announcement came a day after he signed an executive order prohibiting Bolton from transferring, promoting or demoting any employees. The intent, according to the order: “to encourage … public safety personnel to share their opinions and concerns” with Ellis and DeKalb county commissioners.

Ellis told reporters Tuesday afternoon that he wanted officers to feel they could talk to him “without fear of any retaliation.” He noted that a report by his transition team late last year said officers had been “reassigned to positions that didn’t seem appropriate.” But he had no comment when asked whether officers had suffered retaliation under Bolton.

Bolton said he had not received Ellis’ executive order and could not comment on Williams’ status until he returns to work.

Ellis’ transition committee recommended creating a public safety director position between Ellis and Bolton. The two disagreed publicly last year over how many police DeKalb needed, and this year Ellis rejected county police for his personal protection, going instead with the county sheriff’s detail.

Ellis has said he rejected county police protection because “I didn’t feel comfortable about statements he [Bolton] made that I felt were directed at me personally.” Bolton said in a TV news report late last year that “enemies” had tried to make him look bad in the media. Bolton said later that he wasn’t referring to Ellis.

The chief said Tuesday that he had lost about 12 pounds over two weeks before his hospitalization. He said he expects to recover quickly following the diabetes diagnosis, and “I’m going to be back at work Monday.”