THE ISSUES
Partner with the Police Department in identifying and eliminating gangs:
The Criminal Apprehension and Gang Enforcement (CAGE) Unit developed by the Henry County Police Department has allowed county law enforcement to identify several organized gangs within the county. Because of this specialized CAGE Unit, gang activity in Henry County is now being identified and halted before harm can be done to our citizens and their property.
Unfortunately, most gangs originate and develop within our county schools.
Because the Sheriff's Department is responsible for school safety, it has access to a database of all students within the school system. However, this vital database is not being made available to the CAGE Unit. I believe that cooperation between the County Police Department and the Sheriff's Department is crucial, particularly in the area of gang violence. As sheriff, I will assign a deputy with access to the school database to the CAGE Unit in order to assist them in their investigations.
Double School Resource Officers to include Middle School coverage:
In researching the necessity of assigning School Resource Officers at the Middle School level, I have interviewed some of the Juvenile Department staff and personnel within the District Attorney's Office. Their concerns, along with my own experiences in law enforcement with juveniles, have led me to conclude that it is imperative that School Resource Officers be assigned to our county Middle Schools. These officers would also be responsible for visiting the Elementary Schools on a regular basis, and relieving our High School Resource Officers when required. The addition of Middle School Resource Officers has already been implemented in several neighboring counties. I believe it is time for Henry County to be pro-active in protecting our children - our future.
I have already identified several possible sources for funding these additional officers without straining the current budget. Feel free to discuss these with me.
Work to bring a much-needed Juvenile Detention Center to Henry County:
Of all metro area counties that handle over 1,000 Juvenile cases per year, Henry is the only one that does not have a Juvenile Detention Center. Currently, when a juvenile is taken into custody, he is transported to Spalding County. Half of the juveniles at the Spalding Detention Center are from Henry County creating a huge liability and expense for Henry citizens.
According to a Henry County's Juvenile Judge and the State Juvenile Justice Department, there are no plans to build a Juvenile Detention Center in Henry County. However, the state will lease and operate a facility if we provide it. I have identified a potential facility for this purpose. Opening our own Juvenile Detention Center will lessen our liability in transporting juveniles across county lines, and at the same time create additional funds for the county.
Create a Fugitive Task Force:
Every Sheriff's Department in the counties surrounding Henry has its own Fugitive Task Force. Henry County does not. The Henry County Sheriff's Department has an enormous backlog of fugitive warrants that are not being addressed. As sheriff, I will form a Fugitive Task Force and assign deputies to the task of purging the inactive warrants and identifying and pursuing fugitives.
Make essential training for deputies a priority:
State law requires all law enforcement personnel to receive 20 hours of training each year. Under the current sheriff's administration, most Henry County Sheriff's Department personnel receive their minimum twenty hours in house. Their training is completed at the firing range or from a podium. Currently, if deputies desire more specialized training, they are required to obtain it on their own time. They are not encouraged to acquire focused training that will enhance their service to the department and county.
In my work for the City of Atlanta Department of Corrections and the Henry County Police Department, I benefited from numerous training opportunities that enhanced my service to the citizens of Henry County.
I understand the importance of advanced training. As, sheriff, I will help each deputy and department staff member identify the training needed to advance his or her career, and encourage each to take advantage of the training available to help him or her become the best law enforcement officer for the county.
Pay Equity and Promotions:
Currently, there is no standardized promotion process within the Sheriff's Department. There is also no equitable pay classification plan for public safety employees. I support equity in pay and a standardized promotion policy for all county public safety personnel. As sheriff, I will work with the County Commission to see that these policies are implemented.
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