NCSO 2021 February
NEWSLETTER
A MOMENT WITH February is an extremely historical month, where celebrations are key to this great nation. For example, the U.S. Supreme Court met for the first time on Feb. 1, 1790; Abraham Lincoln, the sixteenth President of the United states, was born on Feb. 12, 1809; the United States acquired the Florida territory from Spain on Feb. 22, 1819; the State of Oregon became the 33rd State to join the Union on Feb. 14, 1859; the U. S. Senate ratified the peace treaty, ending the Spanish-American War on Feb. 6, 1899; the Boy Scouts of America organization was first incorporated on Feb. 8, 1910; Princess Elizabeth became Queen Elizabeth on Feb. 6, 1952; Astronaut John Glen Jr. became the first American to orbit the earth on Feb. 10, 1962, and the NFL Super Bowl is usually held on the last Sunday in January; however, in 2002, it was held on Feb. 3, 2002, for the first time. The 36th Super Bowl was played in the City of New Orleans, where the New England Patriots defeated the St. Louis Rams by a score of 20 to 17. Black History Month also takes place during February because Abraham Lincoln and Frederick Douglass were both born during the month. February is the second month of the year in the Julian and Gregorian calendars. The month has 28 days in common years or 29 days in leap years, with the 29th day being labeled the leap day. It is the first of five months to comprise fewer than 31 days and the only one to contain fewer than 30 days. February, March, and November always begin on the same day of the week except during a leap year. The length of February was finalized when Julius Caesar reformed the Roman calendar and apportioned the month 28 days and 29 days. In 713 B.C., February was officially appended to the Roman calendar. When February was first added to the calendar along with January by Numa Pompilius, it became the last month of the year. Pompilius appended these two months to coincide with the lunar cycle; however, Romans believed odd numbers were lucky. Since February was considered to be the unlucky one, they placed it at the end and shortened it so the bad luck wouldn’t be prolonged. February remained there for nearly 200 years. Then, both January and February were moved to the beginning of the year.
The Impact of COVID-19 on American Families To say that the innovative coronavirus (COVID-19) has changed the universe which we live would be a misstatement. This pandemic has changed how we work, learn and interact, as social distancing guidelines have led to a more virtual existence, both personally and professionally. Regardless to where an individual dwells or what he or she does, I am reasonably certain it has impacted his or her life in some fashion. When I reflect on those individuals who are largely affected, I must admit that I often think about the enormous impacts of the health, economic crises, and restrictions on their daily lives, inclusive of the uncertainty about the future this pandemic is posing on our young people. It is immeasurably distressing to discern the negative influences of this devastating virus are compounded for young people, who are confronted with existing disparities associated with race, class, status, gender, and religion. The first case of the COVID-19 virus was discovered in the United States on Jan. 21, 2020, after a resident of Washington State had returned from Wuhan, China on January 15 and underwent an overnight polymerase chain reaction testing procedure. The 2019 novel coronavirus had already taken the lives of 4 persons and infected more than 200 others in China, before Zhong Nanshan, MD, a Chinese pulmonologist and editor-in-chief of the Journal of Thoracic Disease, ultimately confirmed it could be transmitted from person to person. According to the CDC and a government study, the coronavirus was present in the U.S. weeks earlier than scientists and public health officials previously cogitated, and before cases in China were publicly identified. In 2020, COVID-19 became the third leading cause of death in the United States, exceeded only by cancer and heart disease. A view of the most recent data regarding deaths from COVID-19 and other causes, reveals that COVID-19 is currently the number one cause of death in the United States.
SHERIFF BROWN As of Feb. 20, 2021, an average of more than 2,400 people per day died of COVID-19 in the U.S. The cumulative count of deaths attributed to COVID-19 in the U.S. was 497,648 through February 20, 2021, and was predicted to exceed 500,000 within a few days of that period. Millions of people lost their employment, millions of others experienced a significant reduction in their employment hours, and countless numbers feared they could lose their incomes any day. As the pandemic rages on, the economy has set records for unfavorable news. Employees have been forced to choose among maintaining their employment, caring for family members at home, staying healthy and protecting themselves. Small businesses are constantly closing. Company expansions and job creations are suspended at best, if not totally ceased. Voyages to the grocery store are stressful occurrences, from excessive worry of exposure to the coronavirus, to worries over having adequate monies to feed a hungry family. Children have been forced to remain home. The fortunate ones are performing schoolwork on laptops and tablets, but many are attempting to complete lessons on cellphones, and countless others completely lack online access. Rehearsing social skills, establishing friendships, and playing games at recess are suspended. Parents, teachers, and administrators are wrenched to make difficult decisions about sending children back into actual classrooms. With less money, Americans are desperately trying to put and maintain meals on the table; however, food prices are steadily rising. Dinner in a restaurant appears to be a thing of the past. Millions of households are struggling each day to pay basic bills. Children whose most nutritious meal of the day was their school lunch are straightaway going hungry. Thousands of people are standing in long lines for assistance from charitable organizations and food
pantries. A record number of Americans are past due in their rent and mortgage payments, with potential evictions looming for millions of families. Underlying all of this is the effect COVID-19 has had on America’s mental health. The number of people with anxiety and depression has escalated to perilously high numbers and millions are inadequately fortunate to possess the necessary health insurance to qualify for treatment. Whether it is managing addition, depression, social isolation or the conventional stress resulting from COVID-19, we’re all in this together. My staff and I, along with our partners and other community organizations have been instrumental in providing food and other necessities to needy families and will continue to do so until this pandemic subsides. My thoughts and prayers are extended to all the families that have lost loved-ones, friends, colleagues, as well as those who have been pessimistically impacted as a result of this global pandemic. Please know that I share your grief, your sorrow, and your pain. May God stretch his loving arms around each of you for comfort and peace during this most difficult time in your lives. In the interim, remain safe, wash your hands regularly, wear a mask, social distance, and consider receiving a COVID vaccine as soon as possible. May God richly bless each of you and forever keep you in His care.
Sheriff Ezell Brown Newton County, Georgia
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: Sheriff Ezell Brown spoke during the tenth Residential Substance Abuse Treatment (RSAT) program held in a small ceremony inside the jail’s courtroom on Feb. 5, 2021.
Sheriff Ezell Brown was the guest speaker for two virtual Black History Month programs, one at Eastside High School and one at Washington Street Community Center, on Feb. 24, 2021. He was also invited to speak virtually at Mt. Zion African Methodist Episcopal Church for its “Moment of Black History” worship service on Feb. 28, 2021. During the programs, Sheriff Brown shared his journey on becoming the first African American Sheriff of Newton County, Georgia. The start of his journey dated back to his younger self, around the age of eight, when he helped a middle-aged woman in Blakely, Georgia, who was being abused by two police officers during an attempted arrest.
“It was that day that I knew I wanted to become a police officer,” said Sheriff Brown. “I wanted to right the wrong that I witnessed on that day.” In addition to sharing the journey of his becoming, Sheriff Brown shared the Eight Pearls of Wisdom and Perseverance he lived by while on his journey to become a law enforcement officer. Sheriff Brown thanked Principal Jeff Cher, Eastside High School faculty and staff, the leadership team at Washington Street Community Center, Pastor Rev. Dr. Noah Nyamaropa, and Mt. Zion AME members for allowing him the opportunity to speak during their Black History Month programs.
Black HistoRy Month 2021 eight pearls of wisdom and perseverance Pearl 1: Most successful acquisitions begin with a single motivational moment. Pearl 2: You cannot sit back and wait for your dreams to come true; you have to start moving in that direction. Pearl 3: It takes time, talent, and perseverance to move from where you are today to where you want to be in the future. Pearl 4: You must be willing to take the risk. Do the hard job. Set yourself apart from the rest of the pack.
Pearl 5: No matter what obstacles are placed in your way, think of them as stepping stones or building blocks. Just keep on moving, sometimes alone or with allies. Do not let anyone turn you around. Pearl 6: Take your time. Learn the basics. Make sure you have a strong foundation. Pearl 7: When you give your best, fight fairly. Realize it is not personal. Pearl 8: If at first you do not succeed, try, try again.
eight graduate from tenth rsat program On Feb. 5, 2021, the Newton County Sheriff’s Office graduated two male residents and six female residents from its tenth Residential Substance Abuse Treatment (RSAT) program in a small ceremony held inside the jail’s courtroom. Sheriff Ezell Brown recognized the graduates’ accomplishments, provided them with words of encouragement, and thanked all those who helped and continue to help ensure the success of the RSAT program. “I congratulate each of you for this outstanding accomplishment,” said Sheriff Brown. “Moving forward, we expect you to take what you’ve learned in this program and use it to succeed in future endeavors. I want to thank our partners, staff, judges, District Attorney’s Office, and the Superior Court for supporting our RSAT program. Without your support, this program would not be successful.” The six female residents — Ashley Anglin, Shannon Horne, Lemonya O’Neal, Lisa Owenby, Sarah Kraft, and Kristyn Stephens — were recognized as the first group of females to graduate from the RSAT program at the Sheriff’s Office. As each of the females shared their thoughts and gratitude towards the program, O’Neal recited the following poem, which she titled “First Women’s RSAT”: We are the first women’s group in this RSAT program, So I thought I would make this little jam. We go to class and do MRT. Substance abuse is right for me. We deal with our hurts, hang-ups, and habits in CR. With the life skills we are learning, we can go real far. Plan of action is our special class. AA teaches us to put down that glass. Yoga helps us meditate. PT gets us to stay awake. Grief recovery teaches us to cope. Dealing with a loss really ain’t no joke. Ms. Eskew is an awesome teacher. Sign up for RSAT; she would love to meetcha. She loves “sweater weather” and “beautiful day,” But she will send you back to step one if you don’t obey. We are the first pick you on the road to success. Thank you, Sheriff Ezell Brown, you are truly the best. This is what RSAT means to me…
R - Rehabilitate yourself S - Strive to do better day by day A - Accept responsibility for your actions T - Trust that you can change The male residents who graduated from the tenth RSAT program were Jason Galaza and Keion Stanley. Beginning with the ninth RSAT program held May 8, 2020, the Sheriff’s Office changed how it conducted its RSAT graduation ceremony in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. The safety and health of all staff and residents are a top priority for Sheriff Brown and the Sheriff’s Office; therefore, the number of ceremony attendees are kept to the absolute minimum according to the guidelines set forth by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). It was also required for those in attendance to wear a face covering and practice social distancing at all times. Sheriff Brown is passionate about investing in the recovery and improvement process of those who have lost their way, which is why Newton County was the third to offer the RSAT program in the metro-Atlanta area beginning in 2018. Gwinnett and Rockdale counties also offer the program.
RSAT partner spotlight:
Express Employment Professionals Sheriff Ezell Brown and the Newton County Sheriff’s Office would like to thank Elizabeth Mobley, April Adams, and Express Employment Professionals (EEP) employees for partnering with the NCSO Reentry Services, a program that offers residents employment opportunities following their release from the Newton County Detention Center. EEP, located at 10232 Industrial Blvd. in Covington, is focused on enhancing people’s lives one job at a time. Since 2011, the company has provided top-notch customer service to help its local Covington community thrive. EEP is known for its compassion, transparency, and integrity. Its associates and community have voted the company “The Best Staffing Agency in Covington” (as seen in The Covington News) for the past 3 years.
newton county judicial center renamed in honor of Judge horace j. johnson, Jr.
Sheriff Ezell Brown attended the dedication and renaming ceremony of Judge Horace J. Johnson, Jr. Judicial Center on Feb. 5, 2021. Sheriff Brown escorted the family of the late Judge Johnson, who transitioned on July 1, 2020, to and from the ceremony. The ceremony was kept quaint, with limited seating for attendees, due to the on-going coronavirus pandemic; therefore, the ceremony was live-streamed on the County and Newton County Sheriff’s Office’s Facebook and Youtube. The Honorable Chief Justice Harold D. Melton of the Supreme Court of Georgia and the Honorable Chief Judge John M. Ott of the Alcovy Judicial Circuit gave brief remarks during the ceremony followed by Newton County Commission Chairman Marcello Banes, Dr. Lyn Pace from Oxford College, Attorney Kevin Gooch from Holland & Knight, and Pastor Dr. Eric Lee Sr. from Springfield Baptist Church. Sheriff Brown led the Pledge of Allegiance. Judge Johnson transitioned on July 1, 2020, after serving the Newton County community for 18 years.
COMMUNITY OUTREACH Division DISCUSSes CRIME PREVENTION AT STARRSVILlE UNITED METHODIST On Feb. 10, 2021, Sheriff Ezell Brown and Deputies Susan Young, Michael Gregg, and Tim Smith met with Pastor Michael Stephens and Starrsville United Methodist Church members to discuss crime prevention and ways to stay safe at church and in the Newton County community. “I am happy that you took the time out of your schedule to set up a meeting with us,” Sheriff Brown said during the meeting. “I can assure you that we will do whatever we can to ensure your safety, not only at Starrsville United Methodist Church but also in the community.” Sheriff Brown and his deputies spoke about the Newton County Sheriff’s Office Neighborhood Watch program; the Neighborhood Watch program was designed to bring citizens and law enforcement agencies together to deter crime and make communities safer. Additionally, Communications Officer Caitlin Jett spoke about the various communication platforms the Sheriff’s Office utilizes to keep citizens informed and how citizens can effectively use those platforms to connect with the Sheriff’s Office.
The Sheriff’s Office has been committed to promoting its Neighborhood Watch Program through Newton County communities for several years. Neighborhood Watch is one of the oldest and most effective crime prevention programs in the United States. For those interested in having a representative from the Sheriff’s Office give a presentation to their neighborhood, please contact 678-625-1400 for more details.
church covington donates fruit baskets to newton county sheriff’s office deputies The Newton County Sheriff’s Office received fruit baskets from The Church Covington, located at 11975 Highway 142 in Oxford, Georgia, on Feb. 9, 2021. Sheriff Ezell Brown and the Sheriff’s Office send their sincere gratitude to Pastors Darryl and Kristen Hooper and The Church Covington members for their generous gift.
canaan baptist donates cookie trays to newton county sheriff’s office deputies On Feb. 12, 2021, the Newton County Sheriff’s Office received a tray of cookies from Canaan Baptist Church, located at 5581 Salem Road in Covington. Sheriff Ezell Brown and the Sheriff’s Office send their sincere gratitude to Senior Pastor Billy Ingram and the Canaan Baptist Church members for their generous gift.
information on the covid-19 vaccination
Availity for the COVID-19 vaccination is limited; therefore, appointments are required and can ONLY be scheduled on the GNR Health Department website. Appointments cannot be scheduled by visiting or calling the Health Department. Currently, the Health Department is not accepting vaccination appointments until the week of Thursday, March 18, 2021, dependent on vaccine supply. Visit https://www.gnrhealth.com/ for availability updates. Other vaccine options are available at https://dph.georgia.gov/covid-vaccine.
newton county sheriff’s office joins law enforcement public safety campaign Sheriff Ezell Brown and the Newton County Sheriff’s Office will join other law enforcement agencies in the public safety campaign known as the 9 P.M. Routine. The 9 P.M. Routine, originally launched by the Pasco Sheriff’s Office in New Port Rickey, Florida, promotes crime prevention strategies and reduces the number of thefts from vehicles and homes. At 9 P.M. throughout the week, the Newton County Sheriff’s Office will post friendly reminders via social media to remind all residents to conduct their security checks. Please ensure the following tasks are completed: • Lock vehicles, residences, garages, windows, gates, sheds • Activate exterior lights, security cameras, alarm systems • Bring in valuables from your vehicle (including guns, purses, and keys), yard, and patio Sheriff Brown and the Newton County Sheriff’s Office encourage all Newton County residents to participate in the #NewtonCounty9PMRoutine! To report suspicious activity, call 911 immediately. SEE SOMETHING, SAY SOMETHING!
sheriff brown swears in ncso employees On Feb. 25, 2021, Sheriff Ezell Brown held a swearing-in ceremony inside the Newton County Sheriff’s Office’s Training Room for any deputy, detention officer, or administrative personnel who were unable to attend the swearing-in ceremony held in mid-January 2021. Every four years at the beginning of the Sheriff’s new term, it is mandatory that all employees take the Oath of Office.
WELCOME new employees TaRhonda Anderson Detention Officer
Sheriff Ezell Brown and the Newton County Sheriff’s Office welcome you!
COMMITMENT loyalty sacrifice dedication www . newtonsheriffga . org