NCSO 2021 april
NEWSLETTER
A MOMENT WITH honoring those who are serving or have served
In view of the current law enforcement/community relationship climate in the nation, as the Sheriff of Newton County, I am honored to take this opportunity to convey my sincere gratefulness to the tremendous men and women of the Newton County Sheriff’s Office, as well as those of other law enforcement agencies throughout the nation for their bravery. These men and women put their lives on the line daily for the protection of communities throughout these United States. I salute all the great men and women who have given their lives to protect their fellow citizens, their neighborhoods, their communities, and their country. According to a recent study published by the American Psychological Association, the negative publicity surrounding law enforcement appears to have escalated the motivation of some officers to be a part of law enforcement but has not reduced the enthusiasm to perform their duties. The current ambiance of the country has caused many police officers to feel undervalued, disrespected, and neglected. The United States is currently confronted with a law enforcement crisis like never before. Throughout the nation, police officers are resigning and/or retiring in multitudes, and many of those positions are currently unfilled due to the complexity of recruiting new applicants. A survey produced by the Police Executive Research Forum shows a “triple threat” for police departments: a decrease in applications, early exits, and advanced rates of retirement. There are approximately 850,000 sworn law enforcement officers currently serving in the United States, which is the greatest number ever. Approximately 12% of those are female. Since the demise of George Floyd in May 2020, police officers have been demonized unrelentingly by the corporate media. Police budgets have been radically reduced in major cities throughout the nation, and many prominent politicians have publicly expressed contempt for their local law enforcement authorities. In such an environment, serving the community as a police officer appears to be no longer an attractive option, and it makes perfect sense why so many officers have withdrawn from what
they once believed to be a promising career. The law enforcement profession is a tremendously hazardous one and a majority of the men and women serving communities and neighborhoods each day possess a passion for what they do. They serve with dignity, honor, and compassion. As of April 30, 2021, a total of 119 law enforcement officers have been killed in the line of duty, including six law enforcement dogs, according to a National Law Enforcement Memorial Fund report. A staggering 264 police officers were killed in the line of duty in 2020, representing a 96% increase compared to the previous year. The 264 officers killed consisted of federal, state, local, tribal, and territorial officers in the line of duty compared to 135 officers, who died in the line of duty in 2019. Crime fighting has certainly taken its toll throughout history. Since the first recorded police officer death in 1786, there have been more than 22,000 law enforcement officers killed in the line of duty. Currently, there are 22,611 names engraved on the walls of the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial in Washington, DC. I have served in law enforcement more than 40 years and truly understand the intricacies of the profession. I have seen the anguish and fretfulness on the face of officers, after long days and nights of toiling through the trials and tribulations of the profession. I empathize with officers when many of them tell me they feel unsung, undervalued, and underpaid. Former United States Senator Barbara Sue Levy Boxer of California once said, and I enthusiastically agree, “Law enforcement officers are never off duty. They are dedicated public servants who are sworn to protect public safety at any time and place that the peace is threatened. They need all the help that they can get.” No sincerer words have ever been spoken. A significant volume of the population fails to realize that a person could be the most dangerous criminal that ever existed, but the police would be there to protect those who are in danger. They will show up when friends will not or if they retreat. Police officers are courageous men and women. They
SHERIFF BROWN go and provide assistance in a variety of situations. that is what they do. There is a saying that states, “A true police officer fights not because he or she hates what’s in front of him or her, but because he/she loves who stands behind him/her.” In the New Testament Scripture, the Apostle Matthew tells us; “Blessed are the Peacemakers, for they shall be called children of God.” (Matthew 5:9). Peacemakers was an American pacifist organization. The name of the group was taken from a section of the Bible, the Beatitudes or Sermon on the Mount: “Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called children of God.” The group was organized largely by Ernest and Marion Bromley and Juanita and Wally Nelson. What is a peacemaker? One who makes peace, especially by reconciling parties at disagreement. Police Officers are also known as Peace Officers; therefore, they are both peace makers and peace keepers. A peacemaker is someone who is willing to resolve both outer and inner turmoil in order to establish peace with others and within themselves. A peacemaker uses his/her relationship like a containing vessel for the learning process. A peacemaker must regulate the level of stress to keep it within a tolerable, yet productive range. A peacemaker can relieve by buffering news, temporarily focusing on technical remedies, and organizing action. Peacemaking is necessary and important in cases of on-going violence that do not seem to burn itself out. The characteristics or qualities of a Peacemaker are: people-pleaser, friendly, agreeable, cooperative, adaptable, trusting, easy-going, empathetic. Allow me to close my comments by quoting from a story entitled “End of Watch,” by Brian Taylor. As a police officer in Los Angeles, he arrested a suspect in the shooting of his partner, and used the following words:
Sheriff Ezell Brown Newton County, Georgia
“I’m the police, and I’m here to arrest you. You’ve broken the law. I did not write the law. I may even disagree with the law but I will enforce it and no matter how you plead, or attempt to stir my sympathies, nothing you do will stop me from placing you in a steel cage with grey bars. If you run away, I will chase you. If you fight me, I will fight back. If you shoot at me, I will shoot back. By law I am unable to walk away. I am a consequence. I am the unpaid bill. I am fate with a badge and a gun. Behind my badge is a heart like yours. I bleed, I think, I love, and yes, I can be killed. And although I am but one man, I have thousands of brothers and sisters who are the same as me. They will lay down their lives for me, and I them. We stand watch together, a thin blue line, protecting the prey from the predators, the good from the bad. We are the police.” I often tell people that “law enforcement professionals are often taken for granted but it is never too late to thank a police officer for his or her efforts.”
general information
The goal of the Newton County Sheriff’s Office is “to be recognized as the kind of professional organization that values, respects, and honors the rights and dignity of the entire community. Through an abundance of collaborative efforts, the NCSO is committed to improving life in every aspect for its citizens, businesses, schools, colleges/universities and visitors.” The Newton County Sheriff's Office is located at 15151 Alcovy Road in Covington, Georgia. From I-20, take Exit 92 onto Alcovy Road and travel north on Alcovy Road for approximately one mile and cross over Highway 142. The Sheriff's Office will be on the left. The administrative office hours for the Newton County Sheriff's Office are 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Monday through Friday, excluding county holidays. The Newton County Jail is open 24 hours, 7 days a week.
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contact numbers
GENERAL INFORMATION SHERIFF’S SECRETARY JAIL INFORMATION JAIL FAX INVESTIGATIONS INVESTIGATION FAX PATROL UNIT TRAFFIC UNIT WARRANT UNIT WEST SIDE PRECINCT EAST SIDE PRECINCT TIP LINE
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678-625-1403 678-625-1401 678-625-1420 678-625-1450 678-625-1412 678-625-1451 678-625-1410 678-625-1469 678-625-1411 770-788-7812 770-243-8227 678-625-5007
social media
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@newtonsheriffga Featured Photo: Landscape shot of the Newton County Sheriff’s Office headquarters, located at 15151 Alcovy Road in Covington.
MEET THE COURT SERVICES DIVISION
The Newton County Sheriff’s Office’s Court Services Division is responsible for fulfilling the Sheriff’s constitutional responsibility to provide comprehensive law enforcement and security services to the courts of Newton County. Deputy sheriffs and support staff maintain courtroom safety by protecting citizens, judges, jurors, and inmates during court proceedings. They are also responsible for facility security of the Newton County Administration Building. The Court Services Division provides complete law enforcement services to the courthouses and buildings. Sgt. Ditoria Hammond oversees the division.
covington news honors sheriff ezell brown On April 29, 2021, Sheriff Ezell Brown was honored with the Community Spirit Award by The Covington News during its annual Visions award ceremony held at The Reserve at Hendricks in Covington. Sheriff Brown, a native of Blakely, Georgia, was elected the first African American Sheriff of Newton County, Georgia, on Nov. 4, 2008. Before being elected as Sheriff, he worked in law enforcement in Newton County for more than 35 years, having begun his career in 1973 as a patrolman with the Covington Police Department. “I thank God for who I am and what I am. I thank this community because it embraced me as a hometown person,” said Sheriff Brown during his speech at the Visions award ceremony. “I have an amazing staff. I have to give them credit because they have
allowed me to be who I am and what I am today. We have the most amazing organization there is this side of the Mason-Dixon line.” Before ending his speech, Sheriff Brown acknowledged his wife, Janice, and their five children and seven grandchildren. “My wife and my kids have always been there to support me,” said Sheriff Brown. “They’ve always stood behind me with a knife in my back, pushing me... making me go further. So I thank them for allowing me to be who I am and what I am today. And I thank God for the parents that I had growing up because they were the ones that shaped and molded me to be who I am today.” Over the past 12 years, Sheriff Brown has produced substantial benchmarks for the Newton County Sheriff’s Office, including the creation of an Office of Professional Standards (OPS) and Internal Affairs (IA) Division; achievement of state and national accreditation from the National Commission of Correctional Health Care (NCCHC) and American Correctional Association (ACA) for the Detention Center; and receiving accreditation from the Commission on Accreditation for Law Enforcement Agencies (CALEA) and the Georgia Association of Chiefs of Police. Additionally, the Sheriff’s Office has been reaccredited by each agency. Under the leadership of Sheriff Brown, the Newton County Sheriff’s Office obtained the elite status of becoming a Triple Crown Agency in 2017.
lieutenant shows compassion and understanding An attempted traffic stop, followed by an active pursuit, led to a moment of patience, compassion, and understanding between a Newton County lieutenant and a 26-year-old African American male. In the evening of April 8, 2021, Lt. Cortney Morrison was exiting the parking lot of Circle K, located off Brown Bridge and Salem roads, when she noticed a dirt bike illegally operating on the roadway. She attempted to conduct a traffic stop, which turned into an active pursuit when the driver failed to stop. The active pursuit ended near Slades Mill Drive in Covington, a few moments after the male ditched the bike and was on foot. Cpl. Felicia Jefferson, who was on scene at the time of the incident, recalled the first interaction between Lt. Morrison and the male. “Upon locating and making contact with the male, I was amazed at the amount of empathy Lt. Morrison displayed,” she said. “While speaking
to the male, he stated he was, in fact, afraid of the police due to the things he had seen or heard about happening to people at the hands of them […] Lt. Morrison acknowledged those who have faced injustices at the hands of law enforcement, as well as reminded the male that, like every other profession, just because some are bad does not mean they all are.” Lt. Morrison sat with the driver outside the Walmart parking lot, where they had a heartfelt discussion about the current social issues. Cpl. Jefferson noted that Lt. Morrison “recognized the ‘fear’ in the young male’s eyes,” and she knew it was because he was scared of her. Lt. Morrison educated the male on Georgia’s ATV laws, which states that it is illegal to operate off-road vehicles, such as ATVs and dirt bikes, on private property without the owner’s consent; and on public roadways. Lt. Morrison proceeded to let the male go after their discussion.
c.h.a.m.p.s. program graduates 150 students Sheriff Ezell Brown and his C.H.A.M.P.S. instructors — Deputies Tim Smith, Michael Gregg, and Susan Young — hosted two Choosing Healthy Activities and Methods to Promote Safety (C.H.A.M.P.S.) graduations during the month of April. Fourty-nine students graduated from Livingston Elementary, and 101 students graduated from East Newton Elementary. Sheriff Brown and the Sheriff’s Office recognized Dr. Yoli Curry, principal; Amber St. Clair, assistant principal; and fifth-grade teachers Lonnie Wonnum, Cassandra Johnson, and Anne Mukendi for their part in making the C.H.A.M.P.S. program a success at Livingston Elementary. Additionally, Sheriff Brown and the Sheriff’s Office recognized Melissa Daniell, principal; Geri Hawkins, assistant principal; and fifth-grade teachers Mary Ivie, Jennifer Norris, Daphne Ridling, Beth Rogers for their part in making the C.H.A.M.P.S. program a success at East Newton Elementary.
newton county presents proclamation to dfcs On April 24, 2021, the Newton County Sheriff’s Office attended the presentation of a proclamation to the Newton County Department of Family and Children Services in honor of National Child Abuse Prevention Month. The proclamation was presented to Newton County DFCS by Chairman Marcello Banes and the Newton County Board of Commissioners.
WORK RELEASE PARTNER SPOTLIGHT: drive-by birthday GEORGIA PIEDMONT TECHNICAL COLLEGE Georgia Piedmont Techical College has its own campus right in Newton County, located at 16200 Alcovy Road in Covington. Since 1961, the technical college has been committed to “producing a skilled and qualified workfore for DeKalb, Newton, and Rockdale counties and beyond by creating unforgettable learning experiences for students and supporting them in The Way Foward,” as stated on their official website. “Georgia Piedmont Technical College is proud to partner with Sheriff Brown and the Newton Jail Team to support workforce development training for the student/inmates enrolled in GPTC’s Certified Manufacturing Associate program,” said Dr. Irvin Clark, GPTC vice president of economic development. “Additionally, our partnership over the past three years has been successful due to the support and vision of Sheriff Brown to partner with GPTC to offer high demand training programs on-site at the Newton Jail.” In 2019, the Newton County Sheriff’s Office and GPTC hosted their first annual Newton Helping Inmates Regain Entry (HIRE) program. Four inmate residents graduated from the program on Aug. 2, 2019, and began internships with Old Castle, Clarion Metals and Beaver Manufacturing.
the newton helping inmates regain entry program The Newton County Sheriff’s Office and the Georgia Piedmont Technical College kick-started the second Newton Helping Inmates Regain Entry (HIRE) program, a six-week manufacturing-focused training. The first program was held in 2019. The Newton HIRE program enhances GPTC’s efforts to strengthen the workforce pipeline for its industry partners in Newton County. The program also provides a re-entry point for inmate residents currently incarcerated at the Newton County Detention Center. GPTC works with the partners and companies to develop the program’s curriculum and select the inmate residents that would participate in the manufacturing-focused training. Inmate residents enrolled in the Newton HIRE program are expected to complete various courses held at the Newton County Detention Center. The program’s courses are CPR/First Aid training; OSHA 10; soft skills training, such as attitude, body language, communication, workplace dress and interview skills; mechanical, electrical, and welding overviews; forklift certification; and a paid
dfacs
internship. If inmate residents are offered full-time jobs while still serving their sentences, the Newton County Detention Center will provide transportation for the inmate residents until they are released. The mission of the Newton HIRE program is to strive to make lives better within the Newton County community.
WELCOME new employees
Gregory Ward
Darran Shepherd
Deputy Sheriff
Bailiff
Sheriff Ezell Brown and the Newton County Sheriff’s Office welcome you!
COMMITMENT loyalty sacrifice dedication www . newtonsheriffga . org