Records: Sheriff candidate filed lawsuit against Bibb County Sheriff’s Office

MACON, Georgia (41NBC/WMGT) – A former Bibb County Sheriff’s deputy filed a lawsuit against the Bibb County Sheriff’s Office claiming deputies stole and damaged property at his home.

Tim Rivers qualified as a candidate for the Bibb Sheriff Tuesday. Rivers explained he resigned from the department last March, but wouldn’t say why during an interview. 41NBC requested Rivers’ personnel file from the Bibb County Sheriff’s Office following that interview.

The file shows Rivers filed a lawsuit against the department March 18, 2015. The lawsuit claims on November 24, 2014, Bibb County Sheriff’s deputies responded to Rivers’ house and threatened to arrest him if he didn’t leave the property. It also alleges Rivers’ property was stolen/damaged and Rivers was deprived of his constitutional rights. Rivers writes “I was demoted from E.O.D. K-9 handler to the correction facility.” Rivers asks for $2 million in relief.

The lawsuit came after an internal affairs investigation into Rivers. A reprimand letter says the Sheriff’s Office responded to Rivers’ home six times to resolve a dispute between Rivers and someone else staying at the home. The internal affairs case report determined Rivers violated several Bibb County Sheriff’s Office policies including Sheriff Canine Maintenance and Unbecoming Conduct. Rivers was transferred to the corrections division at the end of the letter.

Rivers received several positive letters for his service as a Macon Police officer.

Rivers told 41NBC he didn’t have any additional comment to make regarding these findings.