Fulton County sheriff pays $1.4M to former security contractor after jail walkouts

The Fulton County Sheriff's Office has settled a $1. 4 million debt to Strategic Security Corporation (SSC), a private security contractor, following a major walkout by security officers at the Fulton County Jail. The conflict escalated in August when SSC terminated its contract, citing non-payment. Sheriff Pat Labat attributed the issue to a funding shortfall, a claim disputed by county commissioners. In a press release, Labat confirmed that the debt was settled through an end-of-year budget close-out but continued to raise concerns about ongoing funding inadequacies.

This situation underscores systemic issues within Fulton County's budget, as the sheriff's office faces rising operational demands with limited resources. Efforts to hire some laid-off SSC employees using different budget allocations have been made, but the underlying funding challenges remain a critical concern for public safety and community trust. The resolution of this debt may only provide temporary relief in the broader discussion about jail funding and management.