Two letters penned by Canton Police Chief Robert Merchant provide more details about the allegations surrounding Bailey, who is the department’s spokeswoman. Merchant wrote one letter to Bailey, which outlined the allegations against her and formally placed her on paid suspension.
Marietta attorney Lance LoRusso, who is representing Bailey, said it would be “inappropriate” to comment on the allegations against his client. Bailey also told the Tribune last week she was forbidden to respond to the allegations, which are currently under investigation by the Georgia Bureau of Investigation at Merchant’s request.
Bailey, who has been suspended since July 18, is accused of raising $4,050 in donations for the golf cart, which cost a total of $6,242.29.
Bailey is accused of using the money to purchase the golf cart for the disabled son of Capt. Scott Jamison, whom Bailey is accused of having a sexual relationship with.
Merchant informed Sgt. Bailey he’d requested the GBI to review the alleged misuse of funds and her alleged sexual relationship with Jamison, who was employed with the Sandy Springs Police Department.
As part of her suspension, Bailey was ordered to surrender all departmental credentials, not to take any action that relies on her police powers and be available to respond within 30 minutes of being contacted by the department during working hours Monday through Friday.
In a letter to GBI Special Agent in Charge Kim Williams, Merchant wrote he wanted an investigation into allegations that Bailey “used her position and monies from the Canton Police Department Explorer’s (Program) to purchase a golf cart for the disabled son of Captain Scott Jamison (Sandy Springs Police Department).”
“Prior to soliciting donations and purchasing the golf cart, both Sgt. Bailey and Captain Jamison were involved in an ongoing sexual relationship,” Merchant wrote. “Captain Jamison had full knowledge that Sgt. Bailey used her position to solicit donations for the golf cart. They were willing participants and taking of monies from the Canton Police Explorers was done under false pretenses and should be considered criminal in nature.”
Merchant told Williams that while he did not formally audit the account, he found copies of checks totaling $4,050, which was listed by Bailey as contributions to the program. He also discovered handwritten notes that referred to a golf cart, he said.
Merchant also told Williams in the letter that Jamison, who has since voluntarily retired from the Sandy Springs Police Department, provided him with a bill of sale in the amount of $5,742.29 from Superior Motorsports in Woodstock.
He also said Jamison provided him with an invoice in the amount of $6,242.29, which also included the purchase of a gun rack, stereo and customized wheels.
“The fact that additional monies were spent to customize the golf cart is indefensible and resulted in additional funds being unlawfully taken from the Canton Police Explorers,” Merchant wrote.
The police chief also said he requested Jamison turn in a sworn statement outlining their relationship and the “circumstances surrounding the acquisition of the golf car.”
He also requested the golf cart be returned to the department, which it was on July 12.
He also noted he spoke with Sandy Springs Police Chief Terry Sult, who said he “supports the need for an independent investigation.”
Merchant went on to say he believed his employee “unlawfully used funds” from the department to purchase the golf cart and Jamison “did not object to the solicitation of funds or donation of the golf cart.”
“He had full knowledge that Sgt. Bailey, who he was maintaining a sexual relationship with, was using her position in the Canton Police Department to solicit funds on behalf of the Department’s Explorer post,” he said. “The conduct and behavior of both Sgt. Bailey and Capt. Jamison was not only contrary to core values of our profession, but a violation of the law.”
Jamison filed an incident report last month against Bailey with the Cherokee Sheriff’s Office, alleging she was making harassing phone calls to him and his wife.
Jamison claimed he’d broken off the relationship with Bailey after his wife learned of the affair, and asked Bailey not to contact him.
However, Jamison alleged Bailey did not abide by his requests and alleged he received a letter from a man, which he said was penned to inform his wife about the affair.
The package also contained sexually charged photos of Bailey with Jamison.
Bailey has been with the Canton Police Department since February 2003.
She has been a longtime supporter of Canton’s Explorer’s program and Cherokee County Special Olympics. She currently is the treasurer of the Canton-Cherokee Triad and Seniors and Law Enforcement Together Council.
She recently joined Canton-Cherokee radKIDS as a certified instructor. RadKIDS empowers children to effectively prepare them with tools needed to prevent harm from strangers.
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