Deriso caves to apology demand

In the hopes of sparing himself another lawsuit, Cordele's embattled commission chair may have missed mark

CORDELE, GA – Cordele’s controversial and lawsuit stricken Commission Chairman Joshua Deriso succeeded in satisfying his Tuesday deadline to apologize to his former Chief of Police, but Deriso’s alleged contrition sounds hollow to the intended audience.

Two weeks ago, Deriso was given the apology ultimatum by attorney Brian Huckaby. Huckaby represents Crisp County Sheriff’s Office Captain Mike Hathaway, who was recently Cordele’s Chief of Police.

Hathaway resigned his post a few weeks after the installation of Cordele’s new city commission, citing the actions of Commission Chairman Joshua Deriso.

Deriso called the former chief a liar when Hathaway discussed the details of the candidate’s October traffic stop. Deriso’s comments were published by The Cordele Dispatch, a local newspaper.

Officer’s body cam audio and video of the night in question clearly show that Deriso told responding officers that “I’m gonna be y’alls boss soon.”

Tuesday afternoon, we reached out to both legal counsel and client after Deriso’s apology was received.

Hathaway initially termed Deriso’s response as a “joke of an apology.”

Later Tuesday afternoon, we received this from Hathaway.

“The chairman, once again, shows his lack of character with this response. We both watched the video together in my office. That’s when I brought to his attention the inappropriate comment he made to the officer’s. I think it’s sad to see the chairman alter the truth to reflect his narrative. Another reason for a recall Cordele.”

Deriso is the subject of at least three separate lawsuits already filed against him.

It’s unknown whether Deriso’s apology to Hathaway will suffice in preventing another suit brought against the chairman.