LEE COUNTY, Ala. (EETV) – Lee County Sheriff Jay Jones fired Deputy Cam Hunt following Hunt’s decision to inform Jones of his plan to run for sheriff on Oct. 21.
Sheriff Jones, in a statement to WRBL Columbus, says that Hunt had the opportunity to resign before formally starting his campaign, however he chose not to. According to Jones, he chose to dismiss Hunt to preserve unity within the agency and to better provide safety to the public.
“Former Deputy Hunt informed me of his intentions to qualify as a candidate for Lee County Sheriff this past Tuesday. Based on recent events, it is clear that he had been planning a campaign prior to our meeting. He could have chosen to resign before starting his campaign and his resignation would have been accepted. He chose not to do so. As a result, his employment was terminated.
Having an employee actively seeking to challenge the leadership of an organization has a high probability of creating dissention and loss of team unity within the organization. In the case of a law enforcement agency, the primary mission of providing for the safety of the public would be adversely affected. The people of Lee County deserve to have dedicated and caring professionals working as a team in their Sheriff’s Office. The constitution of the State of Alabama designates Sheriffs as constitutional officers and they are at-will employers.”
Hunt, a Marine Corps veteran and Auburn alumnus, says that the termination was politically motivated. In an open letter posted to Facebook, Hunt outlines his grievances and the sequence of events. Hunt holds that it is his constitutional right to plan a campaign, and Sheriff Jones’ decision to terminate him has created more strife within the Office than if the Sheriff chose otherwise.
“Sheriff Jones says it was 'clear' I had been planning a campaign. That is true, but planning a campaign is not misconduct, it is a constitutional right,” wrote Hunt in his letter addressing the Sheriff.
“He cites ‘public safety’ and ‘dissension’ as reasons for firing me. In reality, his decision to fire me has created far more dissension within the Sheriff’s Office than if he handled the situation professionally,” continued Hunt.
Hunt also claims that others in the office have been threatened with termination if they are found to be supporting his campaign, and that senior leadership monitors employees’ social media accounts to find whether they interact or support Hunt’s posts.
Alabama, being an at-will employment state, gives sheriffs discretion to terminate deputies, unless a local merit system is in place. This has been upheld by multiple cases, such as Terry v. Cook (1989), and most recently Ezell v. Darr (2015). Lee County does not have this merit system, and therefore deputies are at-will employees.
Alabama Code also states that "a deputy sheriff may be required by the sheriff to take an unpaid leave of absence or resign his or her position if the deputy sheriff seeks election for the office of sheriff," citing the Alabama Constitution, section 138.
Eagle Eye TV will continue to cover the situation and the ongoing race for office.
