SherifficNews

News letter

August 2017

Chatham CountySheriff’s Office

On the Cover- The new entrance and sign for the Al St Lawrence Range and Training Center

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THE FINAL RESULTS ARE INTEAM K-9 # 1 IN THE COUNTY # 7 IN THE

NATION!

The final results of the 2017 Weight Loss Challenge came in on May 31st and Team K-9 lead the way by placing First in

Chatham County and Seventh Nationally. Team K-9’s percentage weight loss was 14.41% with the 5 person team

losing 169 pounds. Jason Livie placed first in the County and Joy Harper came in third place in the individual rankings.

Congratulations Team K-9 members Jason Livie, Trey Leggett, Javier Valdes, Joy Harper and Steven Davis.

Of the other CCSO that took part in the Weight Loss Challenge both Patricia Frapps and Todd Freesemann were

recognized as participants that lost 5% or more. Congratulations to them as well.

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CONGRATULATIONS GPSTC GRADS

Congratulations to Tiniesha Cochran, Freddie Jones, Genesis Castro and Jervis Taylor on their graduation from GPSTC Basic Law Enforcement Classes 300/301. Tiniesha Cochran and Freddie Jones scored Marksman in shooting and Ms. Cochran was recognized as the

Most Improved in Physical Fitness for Class 300.

Tiniesha Cochran Freddie Jones

Jervis Taylor Genesis Castro

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POKER RUN SUCCESS!OVER 250 RIDERS

$19,000 RAISED FORTHE BOYS & GIRLS RANCH

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THIS IS WHAT THE POKER RUN IS ALL ABOUT

CCSO Furnishes Entire Cottage at the Boy’s and Girl’s Ranch

Thanks to the fundraising efforts of last year’s Mud Run and April’s Poker Run, the Chatham County Sheriff’s Office was able to completely furnish an entire cottage at the Boy’s and Girl’s Ranch. Chatham County Sheriff John Wilcher presented a check to the Georgia Sheriff’s Youth Homes in the amount of $20,066.94 which will go towards new beds, mattresses, dressers, work tables and living room furniture.

For over 20 years the Chatham County Sheriff’s Office has raised money for the Boy’s and Girl’s Ranch, part of the Georgia Sheriff’s Youth Homes. These are children who have been abused, whose parents might be in jail or have substance abuse problems. The Sheriff’s Office is proud of its relationship with the Boy’s and Girl’s Ranch and enjoys raising the funds that not only went towards this gift, but also the Christmas gifts we provide in December.

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PROTECT AND SERVE ANDKEEPING OTHERS COOL

The Police Emerald Society of Southeast Georgia donated 53 box fans on July 20th as a part of a Box Fan Drive for Senior Citizens, Inc. Police Emerald Society Officers collected pledges from members for the purchase of the fans at the Home Depot on Victory Drive. The store manager donated an additional 10 fans for drop off at the Frank G. Murray Community Center. Jodi Moody of the Community Center was very pleased with the donation and ensured us that the elderly would greatly benefit from our efforts.

The Police Emerald Society of Southeast Georgia is a Gaelic Society with law enforcement members from numerous local, State, and Federal agencies in the area. Most members are of Gaelic decent, but this is not mandatory for membership. There are several Chatham County Sheriff’s deputies that are members and officers of the Society. Jesse Byrd (Court Division) is the President, Trey Leggett (K-9) is the Vice President, Charlton Willoughby (K-9) is the Secretary, Lyndsey Rouse (Blue Coat) is a member and Father Patrick O’Brien is the Chaplain.

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PROTECT & SERVECorporal Freddie Hall sets the

example for Public Service

LETTER OF COMMENDATION

On July 12, 2017, you assisted a young lady and her attorney with moving forward through a Good Behavior process. You took your time, displayed compassion, and explained the process which in turn eased her fears. The involved attorney also com-mented on your professionalism and was equally appreciative.

I am extremely proud of the compassion displayed and for your dedication to the community. The willingness to extend the extra effort to assist a citizen in need is truly exemplary. Therefore you are to be commended for your outstanding effort and atten-tion to duty.

It is important for you to know your good deeds and excellent work are not going un-noticed. Your selfless act is a great example of human kindness and an example for the rest of us. You can take special pride in knowing that your efforts had a positive impression.

Once again thank youSheriff John T. Wilcher

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VISIT FROM THE KING FAMILYNaomi Ruth Barber King addresses

the Conflict Resolution Class Born in Dothan, Alabama in 1931, Mrs. Naomi Ruth Barber King was destined to become a woman of quiet dignity, strength and support to her husband, her family and the communities around her. After her family moved to Atlanta she joined Ebenezer Baptist Church and began to grow spiritually under the pastorate of Rev. Martin Luther King, Sr. and his wife, Mrs. Alberta Williams King. Naomi got to know their children, and caught the eye of their youngest son, A. D. In 1949, King entered Spelman College, where she spent a year studying French before marrying A.D. Williams King, Baptist minister, civil rights activist, and youngest son of Martin Luther King, Sr., in 1950. She and A.D. would have five children.

King lived most of her life as a mother and First Lady. She brought musical concerts, women’s enrichment programs, and tools for living to her husband’s congregations. Together, she and her husband supported Martin Luther King, Jr., when, in 1955, Rosa Parks was arrested for refusing to move to the back of the bus in Montgomery, Alabama; the creation of the Southern Christian Leadership Conference (SCLC) in 1957, when students in Greensboro, North Carolina, launch the sit-in movement in 1960; the Birmingham campaign of 1963; the 1963’s “March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom”; and throughout 1965’s campaign to vote in Selma. On April 4, 1968, Martin Luther King, Jr., was assassinated in Memphis, Tennessee. This tragedy was soon followed by the death of King’s husband, A.D., in 1969. On July 21, King and her children were vacationing in Nassau when A.D. drowned in their home swimming pool, but the family believed that he was murdered.

Despite these losses, King has kept her husband’s memory alive through her establishment of the A.D. King Foundation in 2008, with the primary focus on youth/women empowerment and nonviolent social change strategies. Today, Mrs. King is a beloved mother, grandmother, great grandmother, and bright light to those in the church and communities she serves. Naomi is the inspiration of the documentary project A. D. King: Brother to the Dreamer, produced by Dr. Babs Onabanjo. She is an author and speaks out on important issues of the day. She travels all over the world promoting Youth/Women empowerment, nonviolent social change strategies as a way of life and entrepreneurship as the center core- A Paradigm Shift. She has published a love story of her life entitled “A D and ML King: Two Brothers Who Dared To Dream.” For more information, please visit www.adkingfoundation.com.

Congratulations to all on yourrecent promotions!

Corporal Terry King Corporal Roland Gibbs

Corporal Tiniesha Cochran Corporal Leroy Smalls

Sergeant Kimberly Richards Sergeant Vivian Bacon

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Congratulations to all on yourrecent promotions!

Sergeant Samuel Williams Sergeant Ed Garvin

Lieutenant Gene Harley Lieutenant Shanterria Wright

Lieutenant Angelina Brooms Captain Tyrone Warren

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Sheriff Al St Lawrence’s LegacyDedicated June 8, 2017Sheriff Al St Lawrence served Chatham County for over 56 years; joining the Chatham County Police Department in 1959 he was eventually promoted to Chief in 1971. He was elected Sheriff in 1992 and served in that position until his passing in 2015. He is the only law enforcement officer to be named both Police Chief of the Year and Sheriff of the Year. In 2015 he had the distinction of being named Sheriff of the year for a second time. Along with his many accomplishments it was Sheriff St Lawrence driving force that built the range and training facility that now bears his name.

Sheriff St Lawrence envisioned a facility to afford the opportunity to train personnel to perform their duties with the utmost skill and professionalism so the journey began to develop the Chatham County Sheriff’s Office Range and Training Facility. Over the more than 5 year span there have been several contributors to assist in making the facility what it is today from Sheriff’s Office employees to other agencies.

The Dedication Ceremony took place on June 8th and dispite the weather was attended by many of Sheriff St Lawrence’s friends and family.

The star and wings were created by Gilbert Walker Jr. Along with being an artist blacksmith Mr. Walker has 32 years of Law Enforcement experience. He served 20 years with SCMPD, 2 years with Garden City PD and now works for the Chatham County District Attorney’s Office.

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Sheriff Samuel ElbertChatham County’s

19th SheriffBy Sgt. John Warenzak

Samuel Elbert, Chatham County’s 19th Sheriff, was one of two Brigadier- Generals of the Militia of Georgia whom Georgia gave to the Continental Army of the United States under George Washing- ton during the American Revolutionary War. As a soldier his record was brilliant. In 1777, Georgia’s presi-dent, Button Gwinnett, decided to launch an invasion of Florida to liberate that territory from the British. His plan was to send Colonel Samuel Elbert with 400 continental troops in three galleys and support craft by sea and another element of 109 mounted militia led by Colonel John Baker by land.The two elements were to rendezvous at Saw Pit Bluff, near the mouth of the Nassau River, a site that is presently within the city limits of Jacksonville, Florida. Savannah fell to the British in December 1778. In March 1779 Elbert was wounded and taken prisoner by the British at the Battle of Briar Creek, Georgia. He remained a prisoner until his exchange after the fall of Charleston, South Carolina, in June 1781. Elbert then made his way to Washington’s encampment, where he was given command of the “grand deposit” of arms and military stores. From June through November he commanded a brigade at Yorktown. In 1782 Elbert returned to Georgia, and a year he later was brevetted as brigadier general of the Continental Line, though he was already a major general in the state’s militia.

In 1785, by an almost unanimous vote, Samuel Elbert was elected Governor of the Commonwealth of Georgia where it was said of him: “In the discharge of the duties appertaining to the gubernatorial office he manifested the ability, energy, diligence, dignity; good judgment, decision of character, and exalted manhood which distinguished him in other positions.” As governor, Samuel Elbert was intensely inter-ested in educational and cultural matters. Elbert persuaded the Georgia House to pass a bill supporting the “full and complete establishment of Public seminaries of learning”. On January 27, 1785, the House granted a charter to Franklin College, later to become the University of Georgia, making Georgia the first state to charter a state-supported university. The Savannah Morning News stated that this event was”... perhaps of more enduring and far-reaching importance and good than any other of this great man’s notable career.” Later in life Samuel Elbert served as the Sheriff of Chatham County from 1787-1788 where his record was clean and marked with the strictest integrity.

On November 1, 1788 Samuel Elbert passed away at the age of 48 years old. Every funeral honor which Savannah could accord was extended to him. Minute-guns were fired from Fort Wayne (present day Pirates House area). The colors of that fort and of the ships in the harbor were displayed at half mast; the Rev. Mr. Lindsay delivered an appropriate discourse; and an imposing procession-formed of the artillery, of the militia companies, and of the citizens accompanied the remains which were de-posited at the family burial place on the mount at Rae’s Hall about three miles above the city on the Savannah River. Elbert was a Freemason. His name appears on the 1779 Masonic membership role of Solomon’s Lodge No. 1 at Savannah. Elbert also served as the last Provincial Grand Master of the first English Provincial Grand Lodge of Georgia in 1785.

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America’s Got Talent and so doesChatham County Sheriff’s Office

On Sunday morning, November 19th at 9:00 AM Deputy Mark Cartwright begins his quest to prove that “America’s Got Talent” and so does the Chatham County Sheriff’s Office. Mark has been selected to au-dition for the popular TV show “America’s Got Talent.

Mark has been performing since he was a young boy having his first piano lesson when he was five years old. By the time he was thirteen he was singing professionally (his parents had to drive him to performances), by 16 he was writing his own songs and became a member of the performing rights organization Broadcast Music, Inc. (BMI). Both in 1981 and 1982 Mark was asked to perform at the grand Ole Opry and in 2001 he scored a Top 40 country hit “I’m Still Missing You.”

After his 39 years in country music as a singer/song-writer Mark Cartwright was inducted to the Atlanta Country Music Hall of Fame in 2013. He commented that being inducted to the Hall of Fame made him feel older than he is. Now he wants to to show that he’s still up to the challenge. Mark has been selected to audi-tion before the judges of “America’s Got Talent.” The auditions will take place at the International Trade and Convention Center on Sunday, November 19th beginning at 9:00 AM. Mark will get the chance to perform in front of Howie Mandel, Mel B, Heidi Klum, Simon Cowell and Tyra Banks. Once he’s passed the audition Mark will need the support of the Chatham County Sheriff’s Office to help him through each round until he reaches the top.

Check out the video on the Sheriff’s Office Facebook Page. For more information on Mark Cartwright go towww.entertainermarkcartwright.com.

Chatham County Sheriff’s Office K9’s Max, Largo, Xena, Kyra, Fredy, Toby, Bullet, Miki, and Nero have received bullet and stab protective vests thanks to a charitable donation from non-profit organization Vested Interest in K9s, Inc. K9 Max, Largo, Xena, Kyra, Fredy, Toby, Bullet, Miki & Nero’s vests are embroidered with the sentiment “In memory of K9 Ty, California City Police Department”.

Vested Interest in K9s, Inc. is a 501c (3) charity located in East Taunton, MA whose mission is to provide bullet and stab protective vests and other assistance to dogs of law enforcement and related agencies throughout the United States. The non-profit was established in 2009 to assist law enforcement agencies with this potentially lifesaving body armor for their four-legged K9 officers. Since its inception, Vested Interest in K9s, Inc. provided over 2,600 protective vests, in 50 states, through private and corporate donations, at a cost of over 2.1 million dollars.

The program is open to dogs actively employed in the U.S. with law enforcement or related agencies who are certified and at least 20 months of age. New K9 graduates, as well as K9s with expired vests, are eligible to participate.

The donation to provide one protective vest for a law enforcement K9 is $1,050.00. Each vest has a value between $1,795 – $2,234 and a five-year warranty, and an average weight of 4-5 lbs. There is an estimated 30,000 law enforcement K9s throughout the United States. For more information or to learn about volunteer opportunities, please call 508-824-6978. Vested Interest in K9s, Inc. provides information, lists events, and accepts tax-deductible donations of any denomination at www.vik9s.org or mailed to P.O. Box 9 East Taunton, MA 02718.

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Chatham County Sheriff’s Office K9’s Max, Largo, Xena, Kyra, Fredy, Toby, Bullet, Miki and Nero received body armor

Chatham County Sheriff’s Office K9’s Max, Largo, Xena, Kyra, Fredy, Toby, Bullet, Miki, and Nero have received bullet and stab protective vests thanks to a charitable donation from non-profit organization Vested Interest in K9s, Inc. K9 Max, Largo, Xena, Kyra, Fredy, Toby, Bullet, Miki & Nero’s vests are embroidered with the sentiment “In memory of K9 Ty, California City Police Department”.

Vested Interest in K9s, Inc. is a 501c (3) charity located in East Taunton, MA whose mission is to provide bullet and stab protective vests and other assistance to dogs of law enforcement and related agencies throughout the United States. The non-profit was established in 2009 to assist law enforcement agencies with this potentially lifesaving body armor for their four-legged K9 officers. Since its inception, Vested Interest in K9s, Inc. provided over 2,600 protective vests, in 50 states, through private and corporate donations, at a cost of over 2.1 million dollars.

The program is open to dogs actively employed in the U.S. with law enforcement or related agencies who are certified and at least 20 months of age. New K9 graduates, as well as K9s with expired vests, are eligible to participate.

The donation to provide one protective vest for a law enforcement K9 is $1,050.00. Each vest has a value between $1,795 – $2,234 and a five-year warranty, and an average weight of 4-5 lbs. There is an estimated 30,000 law enforcement K9s throughout the United States. For more information or to learn about volunteer opportunities, please call 508-824-6978. Vested Interest in K9s, Inc. provides information, lists events, and accepts tax-deductible donations of any denomination at www.vik9s.org or mailed to P.O. Box 9 East Taunton, MA 02718.

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I believe the Sheriff’s Office is finally turning things around and making the necessary changes to make this a great place to work. While it is true that we still suffer from staff shortages, we are diligently working to bring on new employees to fill these voids. I personally appreciate all of the effort and hard work that everyone puts forth.

Recently we were visited by MAG for the purpose of accreditation. Although we have yet to receive the final report, we were told by the visiting staff members of MAG that we passed with high marks. They were very impressed with some our new innovations such as the ‘pizza box’ and the electronic ‘pipe’ monitoring tool. They were equally impressed with the way our staff communicated with the Correct Health staff.

We are now beginning our effort to achieve NCCHC accreditation which will bring us up to national industry standards. In the near future we will be making the necessary changes to achieve accreditation for the Enforcement Bureau through CALEA. This is all in an effort to make the working conditions at the Sheriff’s Office as safe as possible for you.

I made a promise to each of you when I was elected that the welfare of my employees would be my guiding principle when it came to making a decision. It is my obligation and duty to make this one of the finest Sheriff’s Office in Georgia. With your help and assistance, we can and will make this a reality.

Public Information OfficerPete Nichols652-7606pbnichols@chathamcounty.org

Phone- 912-652-7600 Fax- 912-652-7660 or www.

chathamsheriff.org

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Contactus

For more information or to submit a story idea contact:

Chatham County Sheriff’s Office

A NOTE FROM THE SHERIFF...