NC sheriff fires captain who beat him in primary

[November 15, 2010]  SHELBY, N.C. (AP) -- A North Carolina sheriff who lost a Democratic primary to his captain fired his subordinate after the captain won the general election.

Cleveland County Sheriff Raymond Hamrick fired Capt. Alan Norman and three other deputies involved in the sheriff-elect's transition team, in part because they drove department cars to interview employees for the new administration.

Hamrick told The Star of Shelby he was just enforcing department policy. Hamrick got just 2 percent of the vote in the primary that Norman won.

Norman and the three deputies said they were shocked when they were fired Friday. Norman takes over as sheriff Dec. 6.

[Associated Press]

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