GA SWAT Lieutenant Slaps Ford Dealer Employee Saying “Gonna Be Repercussions” Over a Missing Garage Door Opener After Trading In His F-150

Grab your garage door opener if you trade your vehicle to the dealer.  

There is a remarkable story from Houston County in Georgia, where some of the largest peach orchards in the world are located. This story is not peachy as a SWAT Lieutenant from the Houston County Sheriff's Office does the wrong thing.

In a surprising turn of events, a Georgia SWAT leader loses his composure and does the wrong thing after trading in his Ford F-150 pickup, a situation one wouldn't expect from someone in such a high-ranking position.

A report from TV station WMAZ in Macon, Georgia, says Lt. Spivey, who heads the Houston County Sheriff's Office department's SWAT team, "Has been suspended for two days after an argument at an auto dealership. An internal affair report says it was a dispute over a garage door opener."

Here is Lt. James Spivey's not-so-peachy story. 

Lt. James Spivey, a Houston County SWAT Lieutenant, is having trouble at home because he has just gone through a divorce and has to give up his Ford F-150 pickup to satisfy the divorce orders from the court. This personal struggle, coupled with the stress of his job, led to a situation that was difficult for him to handle. 

Spivey searched for the garage door opener in his pickup and found it missing after trading in his F-150. This resulted in an argument at Five Star Ford of Warner Robins that went downhill fast. Spivey is accused of slapping at and pushing a Ford dealer employee. 

It's important to note that the story did not identify what vehicle he was trading in, but what would a macho police officer own? He would likely not own a Ford Mach-E or Ford Edge; he would drive a tough Ford F-150 pickup.  

Before we look at what happened, here is a little background information.

It's a well-known fact that police offers have a high divorce rate, and there are many reasons why. A report from attorney Bryan Fagan offers valuable insights into the stress and mental health issues that police officers face. 

He says, "Constant exposure to traumatic events, the pressure to make split-second life-altering decisions, and the demanding nature of the job can lead to significant mental health challenges for these brave men and women."

What should have been a typical vehicle trade-in turns into the police officer's worst nightmare.   

Here's what happened, as reported by TV station WMAZ, citing an internal affairs report: 

Lt. Spivey believed an employee of Five Star Ford in Warner Robins had the garage door opener he left in the Ford F-150 that changed ownership due to his divorce. 

The report says that Spivey sent another police officer from Centerville to the Ford dealer's employee's house to get it. The employee told the officer he did not have it. The story of why the Ford employee would have kept a garage door opener is unclear. 

After finding out the Ford dealer employee didn't give the officer the garage door opener, Lt. Spivey went to the Ford dealer in uniform and argued with the employee. 

The TV station says, "The [sheriff's department] internal affairs report says the Five Star Ford worker didn't have the opener, and he didn't appreciate Spivey sending an officer to his house to get it or approaching him at work. They argued and raised their voices."

The report says, "The man insulted Spivey, leading both men to point fingers and slap each other's hands. That's when the report says Spivey pushed him."

"Spivey said get your finger out of my face. The man then told Spivey he needed to get out of my shop."

The internal affairs report says a Five Star supervisor stepped in and told the men to stop. Witnesses told investigators that Spivey walked away while saying there were "gonna be repercussions from this."

A Five Star Ford manager later told Spivey to stay away unless he was on official business.

The report concluded that Spivey didn't intend to start a fight at the dealership. Still, it said he violated department policy requiring that "an officer must at all times conduct himself in a manner which does not bring discredit to himself, the department, or the county." 

This violation was based on witness accounts and the dealership employee's statement.

The dealership employee said he never had Spivey's garage door opener. Lt. Spivey's missing garage remote was never found. 

Conclusion:

Lt. Spivey was clearly under emotional stress from his divorce, having to give up his Ford F-150 pickup, and he didn't handle it properly. He should have gone in without wearing his uniform and not trying to use his authority as a county sheriff. 

The Ford dealer employee also did not handle it properly by not treating the SWAT team leader with respect. This incident underscores the importance of respect in conflict resolution, as a kind word and a willingness to help could have defused the situation. 

Note: James "Bo" Spivey received the Deputy Sheriff of the Year Award of Valor from the Houston County Sheriff's Office-GA.

The Facebook post from 2021 says, "Congratulations to Sgt. Bo Spivey and Deputy Doug Blackmon are on receiving the Deputy Sheriff of the Year Award of Valor. We are so proud of you and your dedication to the citizens of Houston County."

Update to this post:

A reader gave me this information, which I will add to my story. 

Rich says, "I've been married into a law enforcement family "sheriff's," for over 30 years. This SWAT guy has an acute illness that affects the vast majority of law enforcement, causing divorce, road rage, bullying, and a host of other dangerous behaviors. It's called the "god complex," and yes, this is an accurate term known in that occupation. Our family firsthand has suffered many years of brutality that has destroyed the souls of young children and spouses. Please understand that you are making excuses regarding their behavior."

Have you ever traded in a vehicle and later found out you left something of value in the car? Click the red Add New Comment link below and tell us what happened. 

I am Denis Flierl, a Senior Torque News Reporter since 2012. My 30+ year tenure in the automotive industry, initially in a consulting role with every major car brand and later as a freelance journalist test-driving new vehicles, has equipped me with a wealth of knowledge. I specialize in reporting the latest automotive news and providing expert analysis on Subaru, which you'll find here, ensuring that you, as a reader, are always well-informed and up-to-date. Follow me on my X SubaruReport, All Subaru, WRXSTI, @DenisFlierl, Facebook, and Instagram.

Photo credit: Denis Flierl via the Houston County Sheriff's Office