Camden County Sheriff’s Sergeant Indicted on 13 Federal Charges Raises Public Alarm Over Hiring Practices

A Camden County Sheriff’s sergeant has recently been indicted on 13 federal charges tied to excessive force and falsifying official records, renewing public concern over how officers with troubling records are rehired at neighboring law enforcement agencies.

Sergeant Buck William Aldridge, 42, of St. Mary’s, faces multiple counts of deprivation of rights under color of law and falsifying records, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office. Federal prosecutors allege Aldridge used excessive force during four separate arrests and then attempted to justify his actions by submitting false reports.

If convicted, Aldridge faces up to 10 years in prison per civil rights violation and 20 years per false record charge. Sentencing would be determined by a federal judge.

“Law enforcement officers are entrusted with the authority to uphold the law — not to break it,” said FBI Atlanta Special Agent Paul Brown. “When that trust is violated, the FBI will act. No badge puts anyone above the Constitution.”

The FBI’s Brunswick office continues to investigate, while the U.S. Attorney’s Office is prosecuting the case.

Connection to Leonard Cure Shooting

Aldridge’s indictment follows a year of controversy surrounding his role in the October 2023 shooting of Leonard Cure, a 53-year-old Black man exonerated in Florida after serving 16 years for a wrongful conviction.

Cure was stopped by Aldridge for “allegedly” speeding along I-95 near the Georgia-Florida line. Dashcam and bodycam video showed Aldridge deploying a stun gun before a struggle ensued. During the altercation, Cure placed his hand on Aldridge’s throat, at which point Aldridge fatally shot him.

Despite national outcry, prosecutors ruled the use of deadly force justified, and Aldridge was reinstated after administrative leave. Cure’s family has since filed a $16 million federal civil rights lawsuit against Aldridge and former Sheriff Jim Proctor, alleging negligence and a pattern of excessive force.

A History of Force and Controversial Rehiring

Records reveal that Aldridge was fired from the Kingsland Police Department in 2017 following repeated disciplinary issues, including excessive force. Yet, less than a year later, the Camden County Sheriff’s Office hired him — a decision that has since drawn intense scrutiny.

Community members are questioning how officers dismissed for misconduct are able to move so easily between agencies, often without meaningful accountability.

“This is exactly why people don’t trust the system,” said one Camden resident at a recent community meeting. “If an officer is fired for using too much force, why should they be given another badge just down the road? That puts all of us at risk.”

Local leaders and civil rights advocates have echoed those concerns, calling for statewide reforms to prevent so-called “wandering officers” — those who are dismissed for misconduct in one jurisdiction but hired by another.

Calls for Accountability

For many in Camden County, the federal indictment has underscored a troubling pattern: agencies prioritizing staffing needs over community safety and trust.

“Law enforcement agencies need to be held accountable for who they hire,” said a regional NAACP representative. “Otherwise, you’re recycling the very problems the public is begging you to fix.”

With Aldridge now facing federal charges and public trust already strained by the Cure case, residents say the sheriff’s office must confront difficult questions about its hiring practices and commitment to reform.

Camden County, home to nearly 55,000 residents, sits on the southeastern tip of Georgia. Many here hope the federal case will spark long-overdue change.