A Clayton County, Ga., sheriff has come under increased scrutiny after accidentally shooting a friend while “practicing police tactics,” WXIA reports.
The fallout started May 3 when Sheriff Victor Hill called 911 to report that he had accidentally shot Gwenevere McCord, a 43-year-old real estate agent. Hill was charged with misdemeanor reckless conduct in the incident that left McCord with a destroyed spleen and kidney, among other injuries.
The shooting led to scrutiny of Hill’s spending habits, all reportedly on the taxpayers’ dime.
According to the report, since January 2014 the sheriff has traveled coast to coast spending money on “training.” There was a weeklong trip to Los Angeles for training in survival tactics that cost some $2,156. There was also a six-day defensive-training program in Pittsburgh that cost $3,400. According to WXIA, during both trips the sheriff flew first-class.
There are records of trips to Florida, Texas, Michigan and Washington, D.C., all paid for by the county. There were three separate trips to the Beau Rivage casino in Biloxi, Miss., for training sessions on combat shooting, room clearing and firearms. Hill’s three trips to Mississippi—one in March 2014 cost $3,100; he went again in June 2014, running up a $2,152 bill, and yet again in April 2015 for $1,719—cost the county just under $7,000.
“It’s clearly not a responsible use of public tax dollars, and ultimately is an abuse of the public trust,” Ryan Splitlog of Common Cause Georgia told WXIA.
Hill even used tax money to buy video eyewear, ammunition and machete knives. He also billed a $100 buffet dinner to the county.
The Chevrolet Camaro that Hill drives is one of three department vehicles—including a Chevrolet Tahoe and a Chevrolet Suburban—assigned to him, WXIA notes.
To top the cake? Hill has a penchant for Batman and ordered commemorative coins with his name on one side and a Batman emblem on the other. In total, he spent some $2,832.50 to purchase “custom-made wallet clips, key fobs and lapel pins”—and those Batman coins, according to WXIA.
Read more at WXIA.