I-TEAM: 2 fired, 2 demoted in Richmond County Sheriff’s Office scandals
AUGUSTA, Ga. (WRDW/WAGT) - A top member of the Richmond County Sheriff’s Office command staff and one of his subordinates have been fired after engaging in an inappropriate relationship, News 12 has confirmed from independent sources.
Fired: Capt. Brandon Beckman and Investigator Allison “Allie” Walker
Capt. Brandon Beckman and Investigator Allison “Allie” Walker are no longer with the agency, sources told News 12.
They were fired not over the relationship but for lying when questioned, sources told News 12.
As of Wednesday, the Richmond County Sheriff’s Office website has removed the photo and name of Beckman – a 20-plus-year veteran with the agency – from the list of “Command Staff.” According to a Facebook post on the Richmond County Sheriff’s Office website, Investigator Walker graduated in December of 2020 from GPSTC - CSRA Basic Mandate Class 217, officially becoming a deputy.
RCSO hasn’t notified Georgia POST of firings yet
As of Wednesday night, documents show the Richmond County Sheriff’s Office has not notified the Georgia Peace Officer Standards and Training Council (POST) of the firings.
Georgia POST tells our I-TEAM, the sheriff’s office has 15 days to do so.
According to the POST website,”POST Investigators are assigned cases of involuntary officer terminations, suspensions of more than 30 days, and alleged criminal involvement of any officer.” When the investigation is complete, POST says the report is reviewed and may be submitted to the Probable Cause Committee (PCC) for further action/recommendation. That could include everything from probation to suspension to revocation of a law enforcement officer’s certification.
POST documents also reveal Beckman has completed extensive training this year and last year in supervisory/management skills, leadership and command staff training. Walker’s POST documents show recent training in sexual harassment.
Sources told News 12 that when Walker was fired, she supplied the names of other employees allegedly involved in other scandals. We’ve requested files on those employees.
Demoted: Sgt. Aunarey Herbert and Cpl. Melissa Allen
News 12 also learned that two employees were demoted ― Sgt. Aunarey Herbert and Cpl. Melissa Allen.
Both were demoted to the deputy level.
When we asked on Monday for public records about their demotions, Investigator Walter McNeil of the Richmond County Sheriff’s Office said: “The case involving Cpl. Allen and Sgt. Herbert is still ongoing and the requested documents are not available at this time” per state law.
The I-TEAM asked about it again Wednesday, and we were given the same response.
Allen was promoted to corporal back in 2018, and Herbert is a long-time veteran. He has photos posted on the Richmond County Sheriff Office’s website celebrating 15 years of service and then 20 years of service.
POST training records show Herbert and Allen both took training addressing sexual harassment and leadership in 2022.
MORE FROM NEWS 12:
- Recall effort against sheriff falls short of needed signatures
- Richmond County cop was under investigation when he killed himself
Read the council’s files on the officers:
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