The original story on the complaints is here and the OIG initial response along with my reply and request for reconsideration is here. I added links to the OIG’s response in an effort to make it easier to digest.
- Note: We filed three complaints, one against Gov. Brian Kemp one against Gwinnett Sheriff Keybo Taylor and one against Cobb Sheriff Craig Owens. The complaint against Gov Kemp is still under consideration at OIG.
The below was received via email on Sept. 12, 2022. I am grateful to Mr. McAfee for his reply.
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Good afternoon Mr. King,
I appreciate your consideration of our office for your complaint. To be clear, declining an investigation does not mean we’ve taken any position on the merits or thoroughness of your concerns. We must simply “stay in our lane” and only execute the powers delineated to us by executive order. In my mind, that executive order is clear. OIG does not police all executive powers, constitutionally created or otherwise, only the “agencies of state government” and “state agencies within the executive branch.” I’ve attached a copy of our founding executive order for your convenience.
While county sheriffs may perform state and executive branch functions as your cited AG opinion points out, the fact remains that county sheriffs are not state agencies but rather instrumentalities of county government. See, e.g., O.C.G.A. § 15-16-1 (a) (“the sheriff is the basic law enforcement officer of the several counties of this state”); Veit v. State, 182 Ga. App. 753, 756 (1987). OIG has not been granted jurisdiction to investigate anything considered executive in function. Only “state agencies.”
Feel free to call me anytime at the number below. I’m happy to talk through your concerns and explain our position in greater detail. And disregard any previous reference to DOC, as I agree that DOC would not be the appropriate venue for your complaint.
| Scott McAfee
Inspector General Office of the State Inspector General State of Georgia
Mobile: 404- Email: scott.mcafee@oig.ga.
2 Martin Luther King Jr. Dr. SW Suite 1102 | West Tower Atlanta, Georgia 30334 |
