Committee meets on fate of sheriff
Now governor decides
By JOAN CROTHERS Towns Sentinel Editor

Rudy Eller

The Sentinel's latest conversation with Special Agent in Charge John Cagle, the Georgia Bureau of Investigation (GBI) agent in the case against Towns County Sheriff Rudy Eller, was very concise. "I was there when the committee of the Attorney General and two sheriffs met yesterday [Monday, August 13] and I can only tell you they met, not what they decided. Their decision will be taken to the Governor....and don't hold your breath."

The Executive Order from the Governor dated August 3, 2007, appointed a committee made up of Attorney General Thurbert Baker, and Sheriff of Walker County Steve Wilson and Sheriff of Cherokee County Roger Garrison to investigate the alleged misconduct in office of Towns County Sheriff Rudy Eller. They are to make a report to Governor Perdue within 30 days with a recommendation as to whether he should be suspended from office as prescribed by law.

In the meantime, Sheriff Eller, per his Bond Order, "shall not go on or within 100 yards of the victim [Garry Dean], any member of victim's family, or any known witness in this case as listed above (Gary Hicks, Martha Hicks, Scotty Fain, Tim Shelton, Tony Sims, Deputy Mark Henderson, Deputy Brian Wilson, Eddie Osborn, Jesse Gibson, Deputy Pat Williams, Deputy Robert Kern and Martha Gibson); [Eller] shall not possess nor be in control of any firearms or offensive weapons; not leave his residence between the hours of 9 p.m. and 6 a.m. except for verifiable employment or medical emergency; and shall be monitored with a GPS monitoring system provided by Sentinel Probation."

Sheriff Eller is still sheriff and has been on salary even though arrested for False Statements, Tampering with Evidence, Hindering and Obstructing Law Enforcement Officers, and Violation of Oath as a Public Officer. He and the Commissioner are still at odds over salaries for Eddie Osborn. Osborn was listed as on Leave of Absence without pay after his arrest; however Eller sent a notice to the Commissioner that Osborn should be paid for that time, then said he wasn't to be paid, where it now stands. Commissioner Kendall said it would take a court order for him to pay Osborn.