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Tardy deputy loses appeal of demotion
Late arrival at airport allowed juvenile runaway to escape
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Forsyth County News

Forsyth County's civil service board has denied the appeal of a sheriff's deputy who was demoted after he arrived late to pick up a juvenile runaway at the Atlanta airport.

The board took no action at a public hearing held Oct. 14.

Members later decided in executive session to deny the appeal of Deputy Jimmy Caldwell's demotion from Deputy 1st Class to Deputy 2.

A 17-year-old girl was supposed to be picked up May 6 and brought back to her home in Forsyth County. Instead, she escaped from the airport and was not found again for about a week.

During the public hearing, Caldwell told the board his failure to arrive on time at Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport stemmed from "a combination of circumstances that all came together at one time."

His supervisor, Sgt. Jessica Daves, disagreed.

She wrote up Caldwell for "neglect of duty," after she said she warned him multiple times to "get going" to the airport on  May 6.

A letter to Caldwell signed by civil service chairman Avery Howell stated, "The board has determined ... that the disciplinary action here is consistent with the provisions of the civil service system, the discipline is affirmed and your appeal is denied."