Bad Links?

Other glitches?

Notify Webmaster

What our Readers Are Saying

Letters to the Editor

Dunn: Public safety is county's top priority

In my seven years in elected office I have written very few letters to our newspapers. When inaccurate and misleading information appears in the papers, unless it could cause significant harm to our community, I have chosen not to respond.

As most of you also know, I do not respond to the vicious, normally "anonymous," personal attacks which a couple of people we all know like to put in print.

Since I have chosen over time not to abuse the privilege I hope when I do write a letter you will seriously consider its contents.

On May 18, 2005, front page stories appeared in both local papers in which Lt. Col. Jordan of the [Fayette County] Sheriff's [Department] made false and misleading statements and personal attacks against the commissioners which I believe could cause undue fear on the part of our citizens.

He claimed we lied to him (he has said that before!), that we were undermining drug enforcement efforts, singled out Commissioner Wells and me saying they "are endearing themselves to drug dealers preying on Fayette County" and questioned the board's priorities.

Last week I was informed by a reporter from The Citizen that an officer who works for Col. Jordan continued those attacks and, among other things, said we didn't care if they got killed on the job, that we were retaliating against them due to our legal differences with the sheriff over accountability of drug seizure funds, and that it was all my fault because the other commissioners just do whatever I tell them to do.

I was told an article in this week's Citizen would address those additional irresponsible statements.

I was quite agitated and frustrated by questions about those charges, as you might imagine, but I was thankful that she discussed them with me prior to printing the story.

I also hope she understands my frustration was directed at this situation rather than by her doing her job.

Let me state emphatically that public safety is, was and will remain our commissioners' top priority. We not only say it, we put the "money where our mouth is."

I invite you to do a detailed review of our budget and personnel decisions. I went back five years. We have continued to diligently ensure that about 50 percent of all general funds would go directly into public safety.

From 2000 to 2005 the county's general fund budget has grown from $36.4 million to $52.4 million (an increase of 44 Percent).

In these five years the sheriff's budget grew from $8.86 million to $13.57 million (an increase of 53 percent).

All other departments in the county grew an average of 41 percent while the sheriff grew 53 percent.

It is not hard to see where our priority lies. If we were retaliating against the sheriff, we have a strange way of showing it! It would also be illegal and your board "ain't into that."

Additionally during those five years, above and beyond the general funds discussed above, the Board of Commissioners has spent another $60 million in support of law enforcement.

We have installed a $9 million new state-of-the-art 911 system and, in order to provide the best possible security for our detention officers, court security officers, judges, court personnel, and the public, we have just completed a $51 million construction of the new jail, courthouse and sheriff's facilities.

For Col. Jordan and his subordinate to make these outrageous statements denies the reality of what the sheriff's office has been provided by our taxpayers.

Another determinate of our priority is people. During the same five years the commissioners have authorized the additions of 120 new employees. One-hundred-five new positions went to public safety while only 15 new positions were authorized in all other departments combined.

Of the 105 new public safety positions 73 went to the sheriff and 32 to all other public safety.

Again, the board's priority is clear and if we were retaliating I guess you would say we are not very good at it.

Col. Jordan says we lied during the budget workshops. There were about 15 people in the room at the time, including a reporter from The Citizen, all of whom would agree that there was no lying or deception.

The process was the same with him as with everyone else who appeared. Budget hearings are difficult. No one gets everything they want. I guarantee you the taxpayer couldn't afford it.

I am sure all were not pleased with the results but no one else accused us of being unethical.

To have a law enforcement officer state we don't care if they are killed and that we are undermining drug enforcement because we turned down one position on the Drug Squad are such emotionally charged statements they are difficult to address.

Neither of course in any way describes the realities. We appreciate everything they do and because their job is so difficult and dangerous, we work very hard to provide them the resources they need.

The sheriff has a department with 214 people and a $13.5 million budget.

Col. Jordan's statements are not only misleading but they seem directed at our citizens in order to frighten or make them mistrust their government. That is irresponsible.

Perhaps people need to understand that the commissioners' responsibility is to provide resources to the sheriff. We cannot, and never attempt to, tell him how to employ his forces to meet the multiple changing threats which impact the community.

If you were to compare communities of our size, you could not find a better manned, better equipped or better trained law enforcement department anywhere in the United States.

No matter what we have, some would always want more, but that is a fiscal impossibility.

The sheriff often moves people from one department to another. When he makes operational decisions on how to employ his resources, he does not consult us nor should he. It is his job.

All of us who worked in that arena lived with constantly changing threats and resources with which to confront them.

The sheriff knows how to employ his resources for maximum effectiveness, and I am sure if adjustments are necessary he will make them.

Perhaps Col. Jordan needs to discuss the relative departmental priorities with his boss.

When he wanted the helicopter, he got the sheriff to move two deputy positions to fly it. At that time the sheriff considered it a high enough priority to reassign assets.

If conditions are as severe in the Criminal Investigations Division as the public is being led to believe by Col. Jordan, then I am sure the sheriff would do what he believes is necessary to compensate.

Some of the statements being made might cause people to believe that the five drug investigators in the CID are on their own with no help whatsoever.

These outstanding deputies are assisted when necessary by all or part of the 18 member Special Entry Team trained for just such dangerous operations.

They are also part of the Regional Drug Task Force and work in concert with other departments in and outside Fayette County.

Fayette County citizens need to also keep in mind that the fight against drugs is actively pursued by the Peachtree City, Fayetteville and Tyrone police departments as well.

In closing, let me address two other unbelievable statements. Col. Jordan singled out Commissioner Wells and me despite the fact that the Commission votes were unanimous (5 to 0), and one of his deputies said that the other four commissioners do whatever I tell them to do.

I believe singling out Linda Wells and me must be politically motivated. Col. Jordan knows Linda and I are as tough as anyone when it comes to crime. I worked in the law enforcement profession most of my adult life and Linda has worked tirelessly with victims of crime for years.

I believe Col. Jordan also knows we are the next two commissioners likely to be running for reelection and that as long as we five commissioners are in office we will continue to insist on strict accountability of taxpayers' money in accordance with federal and state laws and regulations.

It seems he would like to begin the process of getting some of us out of his way as soon as possible.

The issue of whether the other four commissioners do whatever I tell them to do is patently absurd. It is also an enormous insult to those four individuals who have given years of their lives to serve their community.

They are all strong-willed, decent, honest public servants. We debate the issues vigorously and all of us win some and lose some. Each of us controls only 20 percent of the outcome of each issue.

The individual who made this statement obviously does not know any of us very well and could not have observed us doing our jobs.

To insult the governing authority of Fayette County in this fashion and to ascribe some mystical power to me does nothing to improve the lives of our citizens or to ensure the community that we are all doing as much as we can to provide for their safety.

I have asked Sheriff Johnson to restrain Col. Jordan from continuing to make unprofessional remarks. I am hopeful [the sheriff] will do what is right for our citizens. He has a long-established record of doing just that.

Greg Dunn, chairman

Fayette County Board of Commissioners

Fayetteville, Ga.

Why we need more funds for Drug Task Force

When I worked in the District Attorney's office, I handled all of the Fayette County drug cases and I routinely encountered defendants who said they did not know they had crossed into Fayette County, and regretted that mistake.

However, more and more we are losing that fight. Criminals are not as afraid to come to Fayette County as they once were.

The recent actions by the County Commission have essentially hung up a sign at the county line that says, "Come on in, we won't pay for the agents that are needed to stop you."

The Drug Task Force agents put their lives on the line days, nights, and even weekends. Drug offenders don't take holidays.

Serious drug dealers are able to evade normal police activity. While traffic stops can catch a few, it is only through undercover work, and developing a network of informants that police can continue to stop these offenders at the door.

However, we are letting many of them slip in. By not increasing funding for DTF the county is unable to stop many offenders.

Each year more and more drug dealers are slipping into our county and even our schools.

A third or more of the felony cases in this county are drug offenses. Yet we still have the same size drug task force as we had in the early '90s!

Once drug pushers get a foothold they become even harder to stop, and our citizens are put at higher risk.

This in effect saves the county money in enforcement and prosecution of the offenders, in addition to lowering the negative side effects of drugs in the community.

A DTF agent can only handle a set number of informants effectively while also handling undercover work as well as surveillance.

Arrests don't just happen; they take hours (or weeks) of work and surveillance.

Additional agents could gather more information, increase surveillance and lead the DTF to more arrests of drug pushers early on in the cycle, keeping Fayette County as a safe community.

There are three things that can be done immediately to help that happen.

First the County Commission could approve the two additional agents that the budget office has recommended.

The fact that the Commission does not like Lt. Col. [Bruce] Jordan is irrelevant.

When I worked at the DA's office there were many times that I did not see eye to eye with Col. Jordan or one of his detectives.

But the fact of the matter is that we can't let personality disputes get in the way of getting this done. The bottom line is that we need more agents and the budget has room for it.

Some fight about a helicopter has got nothing to do with the need to defend this county from crime.

Separate the two issues, and do what is right for the citizens of Fayette County. The money doesn't go to Bruce Jordan, it goes to fight crime!

The other two things are also basic. Currently Peachtree City and Fayetteville do not participate in the drug task force (Tyrone does).

This is again a product of political bickering. The cities don't want to send an officer if they can't control the operation.

However the bottom line is that only a united approach can stop drugs in both cities. Without undercover work it cannot be stopped.

Also by not participating, it means that either both groups of law enforcement are following the same leads, or neither follows the leads because they don't have the appropriate manpower. Either way the citizens lose.

Worse yet, now that I am a Defense attorney, I see innocent county residents hassled by the police while dealers drive through untouched, simply because the police don't have the proper resources to investigate. That is not right!

Both cities should commit to assigning an officer to the DTF. I propose that right now, today, both cities and the commission put aside their fights with the sheriff and come together on this issue. It is the right thing to do.

Damon Sanderson

Peachtree City, Ga.

Damon Sanderson is a criminal defense attorney with Sanderson Law P.C. in Peachtree City.

How to help our troops help some Iraqi kids

The 3rd Squadron, 3rd Armored Cavalry Regiment, US Army, stationed south of Baghdad, has established a "Friendship Team" to deliver gifts to Iraqi children from generous citizens who wish to help.

Most needed are shoes and school supplies. Children's shoes can be purchased on sale at Wal-Mart and discount outlets for as little as $3 a pair. Athletic-type shoes and sneakers, size 7 and smaller, are probably best, but soccer shoes would also be welcome.

Needed school supplies include: wood graphite and coloring pencils with small plastic sharpeners and erasers; ball-point pens; and binders with both lined and plain paper for coloring. Staples and Office Depot offers these items in bulk at excellent prices.

Additional items requested include: socks, sweatshirts (without messages or symbols), and soccer balls.

Mail sturdy boxes secured with tape to the following address:

Friendship Team

c/o CPT Sam Cook

HHT, 3rd Sqdn, 3rd ACR

APO AE 09361.

Include a return address on the outside of the package. If you wish to receive an acknowledgment, place a self-addressed and stamped (23 cents) postcard in the package.

If the postcard contains an e-mail address, an attempt will be made to send photographs of Iraqi children