WOODBINE, Ga. – A Camden County deputy was suspended indefinitely without pay and placed on probation for the next year after the sheriff saw a photo of the officer attending a Halloween party wearing blackface and in imitation prison garb.
Sheriff Jim Proctor said he was offended and embarrassed when he saw a photo of Deputy Chad Palmer in "inappropriate and unacceptable attire."
In addition to the suspension and probation, Palmer must attend sensitivity counseling with a local pastor, starting Monday.
"It is what it is folks. We need to move forward in a positive manner and use this to educate ourselves," Proctor said. "If we don't, we fail."
WJXT obtained a photo of Palmer that night with black paint covering his face and arms and wearing striped clothing as if he were an inmate.
Procter said he doesn't believe Palmer, who has a 15-year career in Camden County law enforcement, is racist. He said Palmer thought what he did was funny at the time, but didn't consider the racial implications.
"He wasn't intentionally trying to offend somebody, but his actions did offend somebody," Proctor said. "He is extremely sorry. This is making us look bad. It's making him look bad."
Proctor said the Palmer had no record of trouble in the department and no complaints on file. A Sheriff's Office review of the arrests Palmer has made since 2003 shows that he's brought charges against 187 African-Americans and 356 whites.
Eddie Rhone, president of the local NAACP, said he is glad this type of behavior will not be tolerated by a public servant.
"If you are portraying black folks as being scary characters, you're ensuring that people can do this, and that's the type of image we don't want Camden County to have," said Rhone.
Camden County resident Jerry Cox says a deputy should use better judgement.
"I hope people think about things before they do something like that because you can offend other people. Not meaning to but you still can," Cox said.
"I know a lot of people wanted him to lose his job. We have to express love in this community," Pastor Mac Knight said. "You have to forgive and move on. I think it's a lesson learned, and I hope Palmer has learned a lesson, because a lesson unlearned is a lesson repeated."
Proctor said he will make it mandatory that everyone at his agency go through yearly sensitivity training, including himself.