In his letter of Aug. 21 to

the Fayette County Commission, Sheriff Johnson outlined his concerns and

advised the commission that prisoners could not be accepted from "their"

marshal's department.

This decision was made in an

effort to avoid civil litigation by individuals who were illegally or

inappropriately detained by an agency with authority limited to the enforcement

of county codes and ordinances.

The Fayette County Commission

filed suit against the sheriff for his decision, which was made solely

in the interest of Fayette County citizens. The commission's action

forced the sheriff to respond through the courts.

Insistence by the Fayette County

Commission that "their" marshals department is a county police

department undermines the citizens' voice in determining whether

to establish an additional level of expensive bureaucracy in the name

of county police.

Georgia law safeguards against

this subversive and costly tactic and we urge the commission to refrain

from their litigious sideshow and let the citizens of Fayette County decide.

J. Terry Norris

Executive Vice President

Chief Operating Officer

Ga. Sheriff's Association

[The Georgia Sheriffs'

Association, Inc. is the professional organization representing Georgia's

159 elected sheriffs by providing training and technical assistance to

the office of sheriff throughout the state. The Georgia Sheriffs'

Youth Homes, Inc. is a 45-year old children's charity sponsored by

the Georgia Sheriffs' Association, Inc., which provides a safe and

secure home environment for over 120 of Georgia's abused, abandoned

and neglected children.]