Ex-DeKalb police chief packs, prepares for legal battle

Ousted DeKalb County police chief Terrell Bolton returned to his office Thursday evening to pack his things, apparently preparing for a legal battle over his firing.

“I was looking for things that would help my case,” Bolton said as he rushed past news cameras after emerging at 1 a.m. Friday. “Thank you. Bye-bye.”

He walked briskly to a Cadillac that pulled up in front of the DeKalb County Public Safety complex. The car drove off as soon as he got in.

It was the first time Bolton had been allowed back inside his office since being fired by the county’s Chief Executive Officer, Burrell Ellis, on Feb. 23. Ellis said Bolton had disobeyed orders and violated county policies.

Accompanied by his attorney and his sister, Bolton arrived at the police headquarters in Tucker at about 7:30 p.m. and was still inside at midnight.

Bolton’s attorney Bill McKenney spoke to reporters gathered outside to say Bolton was picking up his personal calendar, personnel files and comp time records, among other things.

“We’re getting files that will show where he was and that he had permission to be there,” McKenney said.

McKenney said Bolton has been denied access to his office for “three or four weeks,” after it began to appear Bolton might be fired.

“This is the first time that I know of that a chief has been locked out of his office,” McKenney said.

Ellis’ spokeswoman Shelia Edwards disputed McKenney’s claim that Bolton was locked out, saying the two sides couldn’t agree on terms of the move.

“We finally told him, ‘you’ll have to come get your stuff or we’re going to ship it to you,” Edwards said.

Bolton was DeKalb’s police chief since January 2007, hired by former county CEO Vernon Jones. He had clashed with Ellis, who took office in January. Ellis has questioned the amount of comp time Bolton has taken.

Bolton recently was diagnosed with diabetes and had taken medical leave to receive treatment at his family home in Texas.

In a termination letter to Bolton, Ellis accused him of insubordination, misuse of county property and acts unbecoming an officer. At the time, Ellis said he was confident the county would win any legal battle resulting from the firing.

Two DeKalb County deputies, a lieutenant from Internal Affairs and representative from the DeKalb County Attorney’s office were on hand to monitor Bolton’s return.

Bolton’s sister, Shirley Bolton, led DeKalb sheriff’s deputies, and DeKalb cops pulling several dollies out the back of the building to a white rented panel van. The officers loaded about a dozen boxes and numerous framed pictures and paintings, plaques and trophies into the van.

“I can’t wait ‘till my brother is vindicated,” she said as the van was loaded.