Cobb public safety director defends himself in dispute over military service

By Janel Davis

The Atlanta Journal-Constitution

Cobb County Public Safety Director Mickey Lloyd faults mistakes on his official military record and undocumented materials for discrepancies that have led to an investigation by the county manager into his military service.

Last week Lloyd was given until Wednesday to clear up inconsistencies in the records and biographical information, and to prove that he had not lied about his military service during his seven years with the county.

“I want the people of Cobb County to know that I am not a fraud. I am who I say I am,” Lloyd said after meeting Wednesday with County Manager David Hankerson.

In a letter to the County Commission, a writer challenged Lloyd’s designation in published reports as being a highly decorated Vietnam veteran. Lloyd also submitted two different military discharge forms, or DD-214s, to the county. One of the forms, submitted in March, included two service awards, while another form submitted later this year listed additional awards, including a Presidential Unit Citation, a Navy Unit Citation, a Combat Action Ribbon, a Bronze Star and a Silver Star.

Lloyd and his attorney, William McKenney, were adamant Wednesday that the public safety director has in fact received several awards, including a Bronze Star and a Silver Star, that were not included in his military record. When he was discharged from the military in 1970, the initial form listed the awards, Lloyd said. But when a certified copy of the form was requested later in his career, it came back without the medals, he said. Lloyd and McKenney are attempting to get the records corrected.

Some military veterans are skeptical about Lloyd’s explanations.

If a veteran were to request a second discharge record from the military, as Lloyd did, “you would be sent a certified copy. They would not change it,” said John Norton, a Navy and National Guard veteran who served in Vietnam. “There is no chance in heck of a change in the [service record] because any change that would be made would be done on DD215, which is a separate form.”

Lloyd also released the results of a polygraph test he commissioned. According to a report on the test, dated July 25, Lloyd answered no when asked whether he had lied about receiving military service awards, if he had altered his original military discharge form and whether he told anyone he received a Purple Heart or was a Navy SEAL. Based on the polygraph examiner’s opinion no deception was indicated.

Lloyd also disputed a resume on file with the county, and which county officials said was extracted from Lloyd's computer a few weeks ago, that says he was a Navy SEAL in Vietnam and received a Purple Heart. Lloyd said he had never seen the resume. Lloyd also disputed information given at a Smyrna Memorial Day event listing him as a Navy SEAL and claiming he had a Purple Heart. Lloyd says he tried to clear up the erroneous information before and after the event.

“I never claimed to be a Navy SEAL, I never was a Navy SEAL,” Lloyd said.

Hankerson is reviewing the documents and has not given a timeline regarding a decision on Lloyd’s future.

If asked to resign, Lloyd could appeal Hankerson’s decision to the County Commission.