Alabama deputy who made homophobic comments hired as officer

Published 2:30 pm Wednesday, July 10, 2019

OWENS CROSS ROADS, Ala. (AP) — A former Alabama sheriff’s deputy who posted homophobic Facebook comments in response to the suicide of a bullied gay teenager now has a job with a different Alabama law enforcement agency.

Jeff Graves resigned as a Madison County sheriff’s deputy in May. His comments on the death of 15-year-old Nigel Shelby of Huntsville called the LGBTQ movement “fake.” He also said “society cannot and should not accept this behavior.”

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Al.com reports that Graves has now been hired as a police officer in Owens Cross Roads. Police Chief Jason Dobbins told news outlets that Graves has shown remorse and deserves a second chance.