Racial Remark Leads To Suspension For Gwinnett Manager

LAWRENCEVILLE, GA — A manager with the Gwinnett County recreation department has been suspended after he used a racially loaded term while emceeing an awards ceremony.

John Register is a community services manager with Gwinnett's recreation department. At an awards ceremony on Oct. 6, Register was asked to emcee a raffle, according to a letter from Tina Fleming, the county's Department of Community Services director.

While holding a microphone, Register was heard referring to county aquatics manager Jim Cyrus, who is black, as "still the HNIC."

The letters "HNIC" commonly mean "head n----- in charge."

According to Fleming's letter, several department employees "came forward to voice concerns and complaints" to their managers. Others sent emails complaining about the comment, the letter said. (SIGN UP: Get Patch's Daily Newsletter and Real Time News Alerts. Or, if you have an iPhone, download the free Patch app.)

"Your behavior reflected unfavorably, not only on this Department, but on the county as an employer," Fleming wrote in the letter informing Register of his suspension. "While your comments may not have been intended to be offensive, they in fact were as evidenced by complaints received thereafter. Your conduct interfered with the morale of this department and fellow employees who were present during the event."

Register's suspension was effective as of Monday, the day the letter was sent. The suspension is expected to last one week and he will not receive pay for that time.

According to the letter, Register has no right to appeal the suspension.

Photo via Pixabay