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September 2, 2015 | forsythherald.com | 75,000 circulation Revue & News, Johns Creek Herald, Milton Herald & Forsyth Herald combined | 50¢ | Volume 18, No. 36
Sheriff’s Office pulls out of CALEA accreditation Accreditation withdrawal prompts questions from former sheriff Paxton BY KATHLEEN STURGEON kathleen@appenmediagroup.com
KATHLEEN STURGEON/STAFF
The Place’s new Executive Director Joni Smith helped organize a new type of food pantry.
The Place celebrates 40 years Debuts client-choice food pantry By KATHLEEN STURGEON kathleen@appenmediagroup.com FORSYTH COUNTY, Ga. — When four Adrian Dominican nuns came to Forsyth County in 1975 to eliminate poverty, they probably never imagined their nonprofit, The Place, would grow into the booming center it is today. In addition to assisting resident families with emergency basic needs, including food, the social-service organization also operates a thrift store onsite.
On Aug. 21, the community came together to celebrate The Place, 2550 The Place Circle, being a Forsyth staple for 40 years. Executive Director Joni Smith said, although she has only been there since January, she is impressed by the organization’s history and the many worthy spinoffs The Place has helped make possible, including Georgia Highlands Medical Clinical. “When I read through the timeline of factors, I am amazed at how many organiza-
tions started from The Place,” Smith said. “The types of things the nuns got involved in throughout the years, including tutoring, helping people find jobs, food, clothing, etc., was amazing.” In keeping with tradition, Smith said, The Place just started a workforce development program, reinitiated their tutoring program and set up a new type of food pantry. The client-choice food pantry is different from most pantries Smith said she’s seen around the county. The Place is getting
FORSYTH COUNTY, Ga. — The Forsyth County Sheriff’s Office has been accredited for professional practices by the Commission on Accreditation for Law Enforcement Agencies (CALEA) for more than 12 years. But that has come to a close now. Forsyth County Sheriff Duane K. Piper announced in an Aug. 17 press release the Sheriff’s Office is withdrawing from the national program effective Sept. 1. CALEA is the national accreditation program for law enforcement agencies. CALEA certification is recognition of compliance to a rigorous set of standards in all phases of department training, recordkeeping and safety. “CALEA has served its initial purpose. However I feel the redundancy and cost of the national program along with requirements that conflict with Georgia state law have made it necessary for me to withdraw from their program.” It was that last remark the sheriff made about CALEA requirements breaking state law that had other Georgia law enforcement officials scratching their heads. CALEA-certified agencies said they don’t know of
Going West starts here. See CELEBRATES, Page 25
PIPER
PAXTON
any such requirements that would violate state law. Piper said he believes CALEA’s required standard on deadly force would be a direct conflict with state laws. Paxton disagreed, saying CALEA uses the same standard and directly mirrors Georgia law word for word. CALEA Executive Director Craig Hartley also said none of the standards conflict with any state laws. “The use of deadly force is no different for a law enforcement officer as opposed to an ordinary citizen,” Paxton said. “Law doesn’t distinguish between the two. Law enforcement has no greater latitude.” In several phone calls to Piper, The Forsyth Herald asked him to explain just what sections of the Georgia Code might be violated by CALEA. Piper returned one call but did not leave a voicemail to explain.
See FCSO, Page 11
September 17
Roswell Mill Club, Starting at 7:00 p.m. Get your first glimpse of what it means to Go West. Head to westga.edu/ontheroad.