Frequent misbehavior by Camden deputies leads to dropped insurance coverage

Timothy Bessent, Sr., president of the Camden County branch of the NAACP, speaking at a press conference on Nov. 16, 2022, regarding the beating of Jarrett Hobbs by jailers in the Camden County Detention Center. Credit: NAACP Camden County GA Facebook page

Repeated instances by Camden County deputies of jailhouse violence, car accidents and other misbehavior have prompted the insurance company that covers local law enforcement to end its coverage.

As a result Camden taxpayers will have to swallow the cost of rising premiums that will likely double in the upcoming fiscal year from the $700,000 annual premiums previously charged to the county, according to Mike Spiers, human resources director for the Camden government. 

The Camden County Sheriff’s Office faces 15 active claims stemming from incidents over the last two years whereby deputies have displayed malpractice against detainees at the jail, crashed their service cars and damaged property after using controversial PIT maneuvers during high-speed chases, Spiers said. The majority of the claims came from incidents at the jail, he said.