by Teresa Eubanks, Journal Editor
Employees at the Liberty County Sheriff’s Office said they were stunned to hear a county commissioner use a racial epithet and make a negative comment about a staff member during a recent phone call with an inmate.
“You can clearly hear Chairman Barber use a racially-charged word and make a derogatory comment about an African-American female jail sergeant,” stated Sheriff Nick Finch in a letter he sent last week to the Clerk of Court, the county attorney and the other four commission members.
“Specifically, he used the “N” word,” the letter said.
Phone calls to and from inmates are recorded and reviewed for security of the jail.
Liberty County Commission Chairman Dexter Barber was speaking with his brother, Jackie Barber, who is being held at the jail without bond, about their recent visit.
During that conversation, Barber referred to two black visitors at the jail as “n——” and called the way that Jail Sgt. Maple Spears had asked a visitor accompanying him to leave as “some of Maple Spears’ bull—-.”
“Last week they run everybody out but one and then they let two n——- walk in and sit right in front of us,” he can be heard saying on the recording. “That was a slap in the face.”
According to Spears, she was told to make
room for more visitors and asked a man accompanying Barber to leave midway through the two-hour visitation allotment. She said she did that so that the parents of a Gadsden County man, who had just arrived, would have some time to spend with their son before visiting hours ended in 50 minutes.
She added that Barber regularly had numerous visitors and pointed out that the Gadsden County couple were only able to make it to Bristol that Thursday.
Before the commissioner went in to see his brother, Spears said they had a pleasant five-minute conversation during which Barber remarked on how hectic it was that day. She said she teased him, saying, “Y’all need to give us more money,” referring to the fact that the commission has been at odds with the sheriff’s office over budget issues since Finch was elected.
“It really shocked me,” she said about his comments during the phone call. “If he feels that way about some people (referring to African Americans) he doesn’t need to be in a leadership position.”
The sheriff’s letter noted, “I shouldn’t have to tell you that Sgt. Spears found this remark to be personally offensive and was quite upset…”
Another jail employee had a stronger reaction.
“We’re looking for his removal. He can’t properly represent the minority community with that mindset,” said Sheriff’s Secretary Veldina Dawson. “He should search his heart and remove himself from office.”
She said after hearing the recording, “The light came on” and she now believes part of the reason the commission would not fund the sheriff’s office is tied to the fact that it has seven black employees.
“Every other constitutional office got funded except the sheriff’s office,” she said. “That’s my conclusion after hearing him use that word so freely and loosely.”
Major Brian Langston said Barber told him he didn’t remember making the comment.
“I told him my staff is upset and the community is upset about it,” Langston told Barber Monday. “I urged him to reach out and apologize to those he offended.”
Langston added that since the sheriff was elected, “We’ve been at odds with the county commission. I’ve never seen anything like it.”
“While I realize this does not rise to the level of a criminal complaint, I do however feel it is incumbent upon me as the Sheriff of Liberty County to bring this to your attention,” the sheriff’s letter stated.
He concluded the letter saying that he personally condemns the remarks the commission chairman made and “I call on each of you to join me in condemning this type of behavior from our elected officials.”
Efforts to reach the commissioner by phone for comment on this story were unsuccessful.