Dougherty official Mike McCoy files complaint against Commissioner John Hayes

ALBANY — Following an incident that occurred during a Dougherty County Commission-sponsored student trip to Savannah over the April 29-30 weekend, Assistant Dougherty County Administrator Mike McCoy has filed a complaint against District 2 Dougherty County Commissioner John Hayes.

The Albany Herald received a copy of that complaint, sent by McCoy to County Administrator Richard Crowdis on May 4, through a Georgia Open Records Act request.

In the complaint, which outlines events McCoy said took place at a Savannah hotel on April 29, the county official said Hayes, who was in Savannah for an Association County Commissioners of Georgia conference, attacked him both verbally and physically.

“… Commissioner Hayes violated my personal space, cursed me incessantly, called me a (racial epithet), pointed his finger in my face and advised that he would fire me if I worked for him,” McCoy wrote in the complaint. “He also advised that (t)he first thing he was going to do on Monday when he returned to Albany was to meet with my supervisor and get my ‘black a— fired from my position.’

“I moved away and asked why he was angry. He continued to curse me and advised that he had ‘four votes’ and that I didn’t know who I was (expletive) with.”

As The Herald previously reported, McCoy also said Hayes made physical contact with him.

“He made several remarks and I asked him if he was threatening me,” McCoy wrote in the complaint. “He immediately sprinted toward me with his fist balled up and again violated my personal space. He cursed me, put his finger in my face and pressed it against my nose and advised me he would ‘(expletive) me up.’”

McCoy contacted the Savannah Chatham Metro Police Department and filed a complaint against Hayes. The responding officer, Kenneth Redfield, said in his narrative of the incident that he advised McCoy that an assault charge was not warranted but that McCoy could seek a charge of simple battery.

McCoy was in Savannah as one of several adult chaperones on a commission-sponsored Georgia Civic Awareness Program for Students (GCAPS) field trip.

McCoy said Tuesday that he did not think he should make additional comments about the incident but would “let the emails speak for themselves.”

McCoy had indicated in previous conversations with The Herald that his relationship with Hayes had gradually deteriorated.

The Herald obtained emails under the Open Records Act, including one sent to Crowdis dated Oct. 19, 2015, in which McCoy asked the county administrator to limit McCoy to “administrative support duties” in his future dealings with GCAPS. He later explained that his concerns extended beyond interference with his “base work responsibilities.”

“It is necessary to limit my involvement with GCAPS not only because it is taking time from other projects, but because I’m in constant conflict with Commissioner Hayes or in the middle of conflict not of my own making,” McCoy wrote.

McCoy attached a list of complaints, including being chastised for continuing to send GCAPS communications to board members Rochelle (sic) Beasley and Barbara Rivera Holmes. Hayes said in an email to McCoy, “I am personally opposed to those who show up only when at the optimum convenience or during some media event. We have discussed them and frankly, I see no need to continue trying to force a commitment.” When McCoy told Hayes he didn’t think it appropriate to accompany the commissioner when he confronted the two about their absences, McCoy said in the email that Hayes told him he was “afraid to do the heavy lifting.”

McCoy’s list also included his concern that the student GCAPS president was “distraught about her performance as a leader due to comments made by Commissioner Hayes,” being “contacted by Hayes’ spouse regarding Hayes’ relationship with a GCAPS board member” and Hayes being upset over McCoy bringing his son to a GCAPS event after McCoy had gotten approval from the host program, noting and that “my son didn’t cost Dougherty County any money.”

McCoy also sent Hayes an email with an extensive list of duties he said he’d fulfilled for the GCAPS program, noting in an introductory paragraph: “In light of our recent conversations, I find it necessary to provide facts related to my contributions to GCAPS to dispel any claims stating that I’ve not contributed, don’t follow through and/or that the program is not going well.”

That email was dated Sept. 15, 2015.

Crowdis said Tuesday afternoon that McCoy’s complaint, which he initially sent to the county’s Human Resources Department, is “not applicable” to the county’s personnel policy.

“His complaint, as it is, is not applicable to our current policy,” Crowdis said. “Our policy applies to complaints filed by one employee against another, not an elected official.”

Crowdis said he could not comment further on the issue.

County Commission Chairman Chris Cohilas said Tuesday he, too, was limited in what he can say about the incident now that McCoy has filed a complaint.

“I have obviously made the county attorney aware of the situation, but I don’t think it would be appropriate for me to comment on what action should or should not be taken,” Cohilas, an attorney, said. “Obviously, this is a very unfortunate and a very serious situation.”

Asked if he felt fallout from the incident might impact the commission as it carries out its duties, Cohilas said time will determine the answer to that question.

“I have no crystal ball that will allow me to see into the future, but I can say that I have been pleased with the work of all of my colleagues during my time as chairman,” he said. “I think we all work together very well, and where this incident is not one between two commissioners or one that is influenced by a decision made at a commission meeting, I’d hope that we’re all able to move forward.

“I want to stress, though, that this is a very serious issue, and we’re treating it that way. It concerns one of our programs that involves children, so it is something I think we’re all going to have to get our arms around. Whether or not there are policy concerns that we’ll have to consider remains to be seen.”

Since the incident occurred at a GCAPS event involving students from the Dougherty County School System and some of the adult chaperones were school system personnel, including at least one middle school principal, Cohilas has kept Dougherty County School Superintendent Butch Mosely informed of developments as they’ve surfaced.

Mosely said Tuesday that he has received little new information.

“I’m still in information-gathering mode right now,” the school superintendent said. “I have been told by some of our students that there was ‘inappropriate adult interaction’ among some of the chaperones, but I don’t know much beyond that. I hope to talk with some of the students who may have seen or heard this confrontation.”

Hayes did not respond Tuesday to messages left seeking comment.