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VOLUME 25, NUMBER 33
NOVEMBER 15, 2019
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DeKalb Sheriff Jeff Mann to retire early, Chief Deputy Melody Maddox to take reigns
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eKalb County Sheriff Jeffrey L. Mann announced that he will retire from his elected office on Nov. 30, 13 months before his term is up. Mann’s early departure means that Chief Deputy Larry Johnson Melody Maddox will take the helm as the first female sheriff in DeKalb’s 197-year history and will remain in the position until a special election is held in 2020. Maddox served as Chief of Police for Georgia Piedmont Technical College from 2016 until Mann appointed her chief deputy, second in The DeKalb County Board of command, in June. Commissioners unanimously apMaddox, who will proved the resolution sponsored by appoint a new deputy Commissioner Larry Johnson to chief after she becomes erect two Equal Justice Initiative sheriff, said she is looking historical markers to contextualize forward to serving as lynchings in DeKalb County. sheriff. DeKalb County supports the Mann did not specify Remembrance Project Initiative of in a Nov. 14 statement DeKalb’s chapter of the NAACP, announcing his retirement which seeks to recognize and mewhy he was leaving early. morialize incidents of racial terrorThe statement, which ism perpetrated throughout the Unitincluded s 742-word ed States and in localities, including letter to constituents, DeKalb County. said he would make no
DeKalb commissioners approve historical markers to remember lynching victims
DeKalb Sheriff Jeff Mann
further comments and no news conference was scheduled. Mann has been fighting the revocation of his certification from the Peace Officer Standards and Training Council for the past two years. He lost his certification after he was arrested in 2017 on indecency and obstruction charges. According to a police report, an Atlanta police officer was patrolling Piedmont Park one Saturday night on foot in an “area known for sexual acts after dark” when Mann exposed
Fellow DeKalb County Citizens: It has been my honor and great privilege to serve as your DeKalb County Sheriff for the past five and one half years. On four different occasions you have gone to the polls to cast your vote for me. For that I am grateful and truly humbled that you placed your trust in me. I trust that I have served you well in my duties as Chief Deputy Melody Maddox Sheriff. Leading a team of himself as he walked in over 1000 individuals, the direction of the officer. employees and Mann reportedly ran vendors alike, I am when the officer shined extremely proud of the a flashlight on him but accomplishments of the eventually surrendered DeKalb County Sheriff’s after the officer chased Office. I thank them for him. allowing me to serve and Mann pleaded guilty for their phenomenal to obstruction and dedication, hard work and prohibited conduct. He professionalism. was fined $2,000 and While there are many ordered him to perform accomplishments for 80 hours of community which to be proud, none service. The city of stands out more than Atlanta banned Mann our continued Triple from its parks for six Crown status awarded months. by the National Sheriffs’ In the letter to Association. This honor constituents, Mann said: commemorates the
SEE VICTIMS page 7
SEE SHERIFF page 7
DeKalb launches $2 million program to upgrade stormwater drainage ponds DeKalb County CEO collect diverted rain Michael Thurmond has runoff from impervious launched a program to surfaces, such as roof enhance maintenance tops and parking lots,” of the county’s 950 said Lemke. “Enhancing stormwater drainage the pond maintenance ponds. Over the next schedule will increase year, contractors will the system’s efficiency to leverage $2 million to mitigate standing water, CEO Michael Thurmond help control mosquitoes mow vegetation, repair fences, remove trees and and prevent erosion.” restore ponds to maximum Ponds in DeKalb efficiency. County’s inventory range in size “The pond maintenance from 500 square feet to more than program is the first step in a $50 10 acres. Previously, DeKalb was million effort to address critical able to service approximately 150 issues in the stormwater system,” ponds annually, but with the new said Thurmond. “The growth, funding is on track to complete economic development and health restoration and maintenance of 350 of the county and its citizens relies ponds through 2020. on 21st century infrastructure.” To increase efficiency by DeKalb County Public Works matching contractor capabilities, Director Rick Lemke said the the county’s pond inventory is maintenance improvements will ranked by tier to indicate the level greatly enhance the county’s of work required. For example, a stormwater management program. Tier 1 pond may exhibit a minimal “Stormwater drainage ponds amount of overgrown and shrubs,
On the left, an overgrown storm water drainage pond. On the right, the same location after maintenance is complete.
while a Tier 7 pond has a large amount of overgrowth and trees, as well as areas that should be cleared in standing water.
DeKalb County manages three water systems, including drinking water, wastewater and stormwater. Since 2017, the county has
SEE DRAINAGE page 7