Autauga County Sheriff Mark Harrell's lawsuit against the Autauga County Commission has been dismissed for the failure of the Sheriff to state any grounds upon which he is entitled to relief, the Autauga County Commission announced on Friday.
Autauga County Circuit Judge Donald McMillan determined that Harrell failed to show damages and failed to state a claim upon which relief could be granted. McMillan, therefore, in ruling upon a motion to dismiss filed by the Commission, dismissed the suit and barred Harrell from bringing any future suit concerning the same claims.
Last year, Harrell sued the Commission over what he said was poor conditions of the jail and what he claimed was inadequate funding of his department which included his request that his own salary be increased by at least 82% and ignored that more than half of the County General Fund budget each year goes to the Sheriff's budget, according to the Autauga County Commission.
"I'm just glad this case is over. No one in Autauga County has benefited from this ordeal, and I look forward to putting it behind us. Sadly, this debacle has cost taxpayers millions of dollars that could have been used in ways to actually benefit our community," Autauga County Commission Chairman Jay Thompson said in a statement on Friday.
Autauga County Sheriff Mark Harrell said in a response on Monday, "At no time have I requested an 82% increase in pay as the County Commission has reported."
"The court's recent dismissal addressed only the issue of jail occupancy. The remaining claims, adequate courtroom security funding and proper funding of the Sheriff's Office remain unresolved. Accordingly, I have directed my legal counsel to file a motion seeking to amend the dismissal so these critical public safety matters can be properly addressed," Harrell said. "My commitment remains unchanged to protect the citizens of Autauga County, to support the dedicated law enforcement professionals who serve them, and to ensure that our facilities and resources meet the standards of safety and justice our community deserves."
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