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HOMETOWN HEROES

2C – STATESBORO HERALD — Sunday, May 29, 2016 | statesboroherald.com

Anderson retiring after 4 terms Bulloch sheriff to end more than 30 years of service to county

By HOLLI DEAL SAXON hbragg@statesboroherald.com

After four terms as sheriff of Bulloch County and more than 30 years with the Sheriff ’s Office, Lynn Anderson told the Statesboro Herald in January he would not seek another term and is retiring.

He said he looks forward to spending time with family after serving more than three decades with the sheriff ’s office, including four terms as Bulloch County’s sheriff.

His last day in office will be Dec. 31, 2016.

“After 36 years with the sheriff 's office I have decided to retire,” he said in a letter delivered personally to the Statesboro Herald. “The honor of serving as your sheriff the last 16 years has been the

highlight of my law enforcement career.”

Second only to former sheriff Arnold Ray Akins, who was sheriff before Anderson was elected in 2000 and retired after 24 years, Anderson has been in office longer than any of the other 56 men who held the office since 1798.

“I would like to thank the citizens of Bulloch County for the confidence they have shown in me during these last 16 years and allowing me to be the second longest serving sheriff of Bulloch County,” he said. “I would also like to thank my family for standing behind me and supporting me in my years as your sheriff.

The countless hours and days not being home, I feel sure, was as hard for them as it was for me.”

Anderson said law

Sheriff Lynn Anderson enforcement isn’t the same as it was when he first took office, much less as when he first began working as a deputy under former sheriff Akins. The county’s growth, as well as changes in crime and more aggres-

sive crime suppression, has made a difference he said.

“I have seen many changes in law enforcement over the years, but one thing that has not changed is the commitment of the people I work

with,” he said. “Your sheriff 's office has the most professional and dedicated men and women you will find at any sheriff ’s office anywhere. Over the past 16 years I have had two chief deputies - Gene McDaniel and currently, Jared Akins,” Anderson said in the letter. “They have been my right hand during my time as sheriff, running the day to day operations of the sheriff 's office. I would like to thank them for their dedicated service to Bulloch County and to me.

“Last, but certainly not least, thank you to my very loyal and dedicated secretary Sheryl Hagan, who as she says, has trained three sheriffs in her 43 years of service at the sheriff ’s office.”

Anderson reminisced about his years with the

sheriff ’s department, but also spoke of valued time with his family.

“This will be a change for me and my family, but one I look forward to.” To the citizens of Bulloch County, he expressed gratitude. “Thank you again for allowing me to serve as your sheriff.”

A successor to Anderson will be elected May 24, according to Pat Lanier-Jones, Bulloch County’s election supervisor.

Qualifying for that position will begin March 7.

A list of Bulloch County’s former sheriffs may be viewed online at www.bullochsheriff.com/ information/history-ofbcsd/.

Herald reporter Holli Deal Saxon may be reached at (912) 489-9414.

Crime Suppression Team impacting local crime From staff reports

The S t atesb oroBulloch County Crime Suppression Team is making quite an impact on area crime, especially drug crimes.

T he par t nership between the Bulloch County S h e r i f f ’s Department, Georgia Southern University Public Safety and S t a t e s b o ro Po l i ce Department was formed

in February 2014 and is supervised by Bulloch County Sheriff Lynn Anderson.

The unit consists of specially-assigned deputies and officers from all three agencies. The CST “represents s joining of forced between these agencies to address crime trends no matter where they occur,” Anderson said.

The Crime Suppression Team is “the primary

unit for investigating drug related crimes with a focus on gang activity and street crime,” he said. “The CST combines skilled investigators with uniformed deputies and a K-9 officer, Max, to form a potent 14-man proactive force equally capable of saturating a high-crime area as it is of conducting long-term investigations.”

Led by Capt. Jason

Kearney, the CST works through voluntary citizen contacts to generate community good will through n o n - l aw en forcem en t c a l l s.

Officers conduct school walk-throughs to generate partnerships and provide better security; make business checks and, of course, conduct traffic stops and serve search warrants seeking to stop drugs and other crimes.

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HOMETOWN HEROES

statesboroherald.com | STATESBORO HERALD — Sunday, May 29, 2016 – 3C

Firefighters: Saving homes, saving lives

By HOLLI DEAL SAXON hbragg@statesboroherald.com

Fire services are something everyone hopes to never need, but should be thankful for having.

On a daily basis, Statesboro and Bulloch County firefighters expect to encounter a life-threatening situation. When the call comes, they rush to the scene ready for the worst, hoping for the best and are focused on rendering the situation as safe as possible.

Calls range from simple alarms to full-fledged fires.

Both agencies work together on many occasions as districts overlap and they assist each other in handling emergencies.

Bulloch County Fire Department Led by Bulloch County Fire Chief Christopher Ivey, the Bulloch County Fire Department is operated by about 80 volunteer firefighters, with only two paid full time employees.

Ivey and Deputy Chief/ training officer Ben Tapley supervise the department, which consists of several stations and substations throughout the county.

The 4 unmanned substations contain vehicles and equipment available for volunteers and first responders to use in battling the fires. Having the substations located strategically throughout the county helps lower ISO (Insurance Services Office) ratings, which translate into lower insurance costs for residents.

Since the county is so large, the substations are located throughout the county so there is a substation in every area to enable

responders to combat the fires and other emergencies faster.

This department handles fire calls, rescue calls, hazardous condition calls, service calls, false alarms, severe weather calls and more.

Bulloch County firefighters, although volunteer, still undergo mandated training, update equipment and make appearances at community events.

This is a valuable resource for families in the community, as it insures your child’s safety. For help with the installation of your child’s car seat, you can stop by the fire department any time MondayFriday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. and a certified technician will be happy to assist you. ➤ Smoke Detectors

The firefighters take pride in their community and strive to make it a better place to live. The Statesboro Fire Department’s smoke detector program involves firefighters installing a free smoke detector in your home. When a smoke detector is present, the likelihood of death by structure fire is cut in half.

Statesboro Fire Department Led by Chief Tim Grams, the Statesboro Fire Department has two administrative assistants, three shifts with 22 leadership positions and about 30 other firefighters.

This department handles fire alarm calls, structure fires, public education calls, agency assists, hazardous material calls, rescue and extrication and wildfires.

When people experience loss due to fire, the Statesboro Fire Department offers a comforting, calm environment through the Community Assistance in Fire Emergency (CAFE) unit. The CAFE unit serves the community by giving community members affected by structure fires a place to wait while firefighters are on scene. In the CAFE unit, families are given information on what steps to take after a house fire. The CAFE unit also serves firefighters by providing them a place to rest.

This allows Statesboro firefighters to perform at their highest level for the members of the community.

The Statesboro Fire Department also gets involved in community

➤ Up in Flames

SCOTT BRYANT/staff

Statesboro firefighters practice their skills in a condemned house on South Walnut and West Grady Streets. activities including the fol- This event is a great time to Life throughout the year. interact with the commu- At the end of the in-house lowing: nity in ways beyond the fire competition all of the ➤ Kiwanis Ogeechee service. teams come together to Fair support Bulloch County’s ➤ Relay for Life Every year the Statesboro Relay for Life event by The fire department’s attending to the event.

Fire Department goes to the Kiwanis Ogeechee Fair involvement with Relay ➤ Car seat Installation to share fire safety tips and for Life ranges from raisStatesboro firefighters engage with the communi- ing money to participatty. Firefighters have a great ing in the Relay event. The and administrative staff time making balloon ani- three battalions compete have the opportunity to be mals and painting faces for to see who can raise the certified in child passenthe children in the area. most money for Relay for ger safety seat installation.

BULLOCH COUNTY SHERIFF’S OFFICE

This event is hosted by Georg ia Southern University and teaches students the importance of fire safety in the residence halls. All freshmen are required to attend this event to learn about the dangers of fire in the residence halls. The Statesboro Fire Department initiates a mock burn to demonstrate how quickly a dorm room can burn. ➤ Firefighter for a Day

The firefighter for a day program started as a way to make a young boy’s dream of becoming a firefighter come true. Aaron Oliver, 7-year-old Leukemia patient was the first Firefighter for a Day participant. The program was designed to give children with life-altering conditions a chance to focus on being a kid and having fun as a firefighter.

Bulloch County Public Safety “First in Safety & Service” Recognizes the dedicated employees and volunteers of: • Animal Shelter & Humane Enforcement • Bulloch County Fire and Rescue

We proudly salute all of our

Public Safety Professionals!

• Emergency Medical Service Station 1 and Station 7 • Emergency Management • 911 Services

Thank you!

On A Job Well Done From:

Ted Wynn.............................................................. Director

“ I n a n y k i n d o f e m e r g e n c y,

Lee Eckles .............................................Assistant Director

D i a l 911,

Doug Vickers ....................................................EMS Chief

Yo u r l i f e l i n e f o r h e l p ! ! ”

Kelly Barnard ......................................................911 Chief Christopher Ivey ............................ Fire and Rescue Chief Ben Tapley ..........................................Assistant Fire Chief

Ly n n M . A n d e r s o n , S h e r i f f

Wendy Ivey ................................. Animal Shelter Manager

76 4 - 8 8 8 8

Joey Sanders.................................. Humane Enforcement Supervisor

HOMETOWN HEROES

4C – STATESBORO HERALD — Sunday, May 29, 2016 | statesboroherald.com

K-9 officers are heroes, too

By HOLLI DEAL SAXON hbragg@statesboroherald.com

Not all law enforcement heroes are human. There are two four-legged officers – K-9 (canine) officers in town who play a large part in helping keep drugs off the streets.

Rio is a three-year-old German shepherd who lives with Statesboro Police Advanced Patrol Officer Kyle Briley. Max, six, is also a German shepherd, and he lives with Bulloch County Sheriff ’s Cpl. Kirk McGlamery.

Max was born in Belgium, while Rio was born in Germany. Both dogs came from Southern Coast Canines in New

Smyrna Beach, Florida.

Both dogs are trained to detect cocaine, methamphetamine, marijuana and heroin. Max originally worked as a Statesboro Police K-9 officer, but the department downsized to just one dog, Rio, and the sheriff ’s department became Max’s new home.

Max and McGlamery work with the StatesboroBulloch County Crime Suppression Team, while Briley and Rio are solely with the Statesboro Police.

However, each dog and their human partner will assist other agencies if requested.

Both dogs have conducted over 600 searches each, including searches of vehi-

cles, areas, search warrants, shipping packages, storage units and schools.

“It is a lot of work” taking care of a K-9 officer, McGlamery said. The dogs cost between $8,000 and $10,000, and “aren’t your average yard dog.”

Briley agreed, sharing that extra attention to the dog’s safety and health is important. “We train four hours each week,” but life isn’t all work for the dogs.

Rio enjoys playing with his ball and napping, and will give Briley a “high five” when he is placed in his car kennel every day.

Taking care of a K-9 officer is “a lot of work,” McGlamery said. “It’s like caring for a three-year-old child.”

Both dogs and their handlers get together weekly to train, keeping their senses sharp. “You want a dog who uses his nose before he uses his eyes,” McGlamery said.

The dogs are on duty unless they are home, Briley said. “Rio is always working whenever he is out, sniffing for a scent,” Briley said.

“He’s my partner. I spend more time with him than I do with anyone or anything else. He’s the most loyal partner I could have.”

Max “stays with me, rides with me, is with me 24.7,” McGlamery said.

Both dogs are state and nationally certified.

Holli Deal Saxon may be reached at (912) 489-9414.

Above, APO Kyle Briley of the Statesboro Police Department and K9 partner Rio. Below, Capt. Kirk McGlamery of the Statesboro-Bulloch County Crime Supression Team and partner Max.

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statesboroherald.com | STATESBORO HERALD — Sunday, May 29, 2016 – 5C

Police creating standards office Steps aimed at filling vacancies, need for supervisors

By AL HACKLE ahackle@statesboroherald.com

With approval from City Council, the Statesboro Police Department is creating an Office of Professional Standards, to be staffed by one sergeant responsible for recruiting officers as well as handling internal affairs investigations and citizen complaints.

In January, the council authorized creating the new sergeant position and filling it by promoting an officer already in the department.

Interim Police Chief Rob Bryan also received approval to create four slots for corporals in the patrol division and fill them by promoting advanced patrol officers, or APOs. The professional standards sergeant and the corporals, Bryan said, will help in different ways with vacancies and inexperience created by persistent turnover.

“One of the problems we face as an agency is hiring and recruiting,” Bryan said.

“Vacant positions don’t answer calls, and we consistently have vacant positions.”

If fully staffed, the Statesboro Police Department currently would have 87 employees, or 86.5 positions, including a half-time spot.

These include 72 sworn officers and people holding 14.5 civilian jobs, according to information the newspaper obtained from Bryan later Tuesday.

As of January, the police department had six vacancies — not counting the chief’s position. But information had been sent to the city human resources department to send conditional offers to

three prospective hires. If they accept, the police will be down to three vacancies.

The sergeant in charge of the professional standards office will follow up on complaints and all investigations into use of force, and will maintain statistics for all of those things, Bryan said.

“I want to provide you with quarterly, or definitely annual, statistics on the amount of complaints the agency receives and the outcomes of those complaints, the number of use-of-forces and the outcome,” he told the mayor and council.

By having someone assigned to recruit officers, Bryan said, he also hopes the department can report by the end of this year or next year that it has no vacancies.

The professional standards officer will also conduct criminal background checks on the department’s job applicants, relieving patrol officers of this task, Bryan said.

Consistent turnover Meanwhile, the department needs the four corporals to remedy a lack of supervision in its patrol bureau, Bryan told City Council.

Again as a result of frequent departures, the department has a large number of young, relatively inexperienced patrol officers.

“We actually need more supervision in that bureau,” Bryan said. “Part of the reason for that is, our consistent turnover rate has dropped the average experience of patrol officers to 3.7 years.”

As of December, of the 30 officers assigned to patrol shifts, 20 had less than five years of experience, and 14 of

those had less than two years of experience, Bryan reported.

Two years ago, the department, then under former Public Safety Director Wendell Turner, eliminated two lieutenant positions in a reshuffling of its command structure. It now has two lieutenants, four sergeants and four corporals assigned to the patrol bureau.

The reduction in lieutenants removed a level of supervision, leaving the two lieutenants as watch commanders, each supervising both day shift and night shift, on duty for part of each. Each shift then has one patrol sergeant, one corporal, and up to 10 officers when fully staffed.

“What I’m asking to do is add another layer of supervision by adding one corporal per shift, busting those shifts up into squads,” Bryan said.

Each corporal will then supervise four or five officers, a sergeant will supervise the entire shift, and each lieutenant will oversee two sergeants.

The proposal had been vetted by the whole SPD command staff, Bryan reported. Interim City Manager Robert Cheshire also spoke for the proposal, saying that the previous setup had not really worked.

However, Bryan said the 2014 restructuring was good because it put additional officers on the street.

“I believe this will supplement that by returning the supervision to the route it needed to go,” he said.

Bryan had projected that the four promotions to corporal, together, would cost $11,000 to $17,000 for a full year. After having talked to

nity to get promotion inhouse, and I think that’s great that you’re setting it up for a win-win situation,” Jones said.

Then he asked if any of the four new corporals will be minorities.

“I can’t tell you who will apply yet,” Bryan said. “It will be an open process. Anybody who is eligible by policy will be able to apply.”

But two other corporal vacancies had been posted Monday morning, one created by a recent promotion to sergeant. Bryan noted that he had named two acting corporals, one a white officer, one a

black officer, to fill these until final hires are made.

“So, of the acting positions, yes, one was a minority officer promoted to an acting corporal’s position, and I do believe that he will apply,” Bryan said. “If we have others who are eligible, yes sir, I do expect to see their applications.”

Jones seconded District 1 Councilman Phil Boyum’s motion to approve the police job reclassifications. The vote was 4-0 with District 5 Councilman Travis Chance absent.

Al Hackle may be reached at (912) 489-9458.

Town of Brooklet

s e t u Sal

ALL Hometown Heroes,

Minority hiring New District 2 Councilman Sam Jones praised the department for creating opportunities for officers to advance and then asked a pointed question.

“In promoting regular APOs to corporal positions, you’re creating the opportu-

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city Finance Director Cindy West, Bryan said that the actual cost will probably be in the middle of the range but will not be known until the individual officers are chosen for promotion.

He projected the cost of the professional standards sergeant promotion at $3,500 to $5,000. Both costs, he said, will be budget-neutral.

“If approved, we have current funding in the budget to implement it, and it will be reflected in our next budget request without increasing that budget request,” Bryan said.

He also proposed another employee reclassification, making permanent an advanced patrol officer’s assignment as a system administrator for the Sunguard records management and computer-aided dispatch systems installed a year ago. APO Mary Harris is already in that job. Bryan said she acts as an information technology officer for the police, reducing calls to the city’s separate IT department.

Bryan told the council he had no names to attach to the four new corporal and one new sergeant positions yet.

The jobs are being posted for applicants within the department. The sergeant hire could be a promotion or a lateral move, he said.

The Statesboro Police Department is committed to serving Statesboro and Bulloch County with the highest standards of professional excellence.

We are also committed to establishing effective partnerships with all stakeholders within our community to create a better quality of life.

1242 Northside Dr. Statesboro, GA 30458

Become engaged in helping Police and staying informed by learning how to participate through TipSoft (www.tipsoft.com) , Crime Reports (www.crimereports.com), NIXLE (www.nixle.com), P2C (p2c.statesboroga.gov), and the Citizens Police Academy and Youth Citizens Police Academy Programs.

Thank you to the men and women who serve the City of Statesboro and Bulloch County for the outstanding job they do.

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HOMETOWN HEROES

6C – STATESBORO HERALD — Sunday, May 29, 2016 | statesboroherald.com

Air Evac Lifeteam, EMS saving lives Air Evac Lifeteam Statesboro When accidents happen and life depends on how quickly an injured person can get to a hospital, Air Evac Lifeteam Statesboro comes into action.

The air ambulance service flies severely injured or ill persons to hospitals in other cities much faster than a regular ambulance can get there. This service is in Statesboro, and citizens can sign up for the services.

You don’t have to be a member to use the air ambulance service, but being a member is a good idea, as members are discounted.

Household memberships

are $65 a year.

Air Evac EMS, Inc., which operates Air Evac Lifeteam, is the largest independently owned and operated membership-supported air medical service in the United States, according to its website (www.lifeteam.net) Air Evac conducts operations through 118 mutually supporting air medical bases across 15 states. The company has established itself as the preeminent provider of air ambulance services to communities in need of advanced emergency health care and rapid medical transport.

For more information, call (912) 489-6481.

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EMS/EMA/911 Often, it’s the ones working behind the scenes who are the “unsung heroes.”

While firefighters and law enforcement officers may be in the spotlight, there are others who handle the transport of patients, the directing of calls, and other services such as informing citizens of potential dangers. ➤ Bulloch County Emergency Medical Service EMS currently operates out two stations — one located on West Grady Street next to Statesboro Fire Department Station One

and the second, added in 2014, at Bulloch County Fire station # 7, located on U.S. 80 in Brooklet.

Adding the second station has proven beneficial to citizens in decreasing response time to certain areas, said Bulloch County Public Safety Director Ted Wynn. “This will allow for a quicker response to a large portion of the county. As funds are available we will look to substation EMS in other locations based on call data and population density.” ➤ Bulloch County Central 911 Bulloch 911 handles calls for Evans, Candler, and Bulloch Counties. The CAD

system tracks and documents all information relative to every 911 call received and stores that information for retrieval is necessary.

“With over 60,000 calls received on an annual basis, the CAD system is of great necessity,” Wynn said. “The reverse 911 system allows us to alert the public based on proximity to an emergency of a disaster such as a chemical release or and escaped prisoner. The system alerts the public with land line phones, but cell phone users can opt in at the county’s website.” ➤ Bulloch County Emergency Management Agency Bulloch County EMA

gets busy when disaster strikes. When storms, floods or other emergency situations arise, Bulloch EMA personnel makes sure citizens are informed and safe.

Wynn urges all citizens to “Get a kit and make a plan.”

Disaster can strike at any moment. “Prepare your business and your home for disasters. Local, state, and federal response may be temporarily delayed if the gravity of a disaster in enormous. You need to be prepared to sustain yourself and family for up to 72 hours after a disaster strikes and the kits you prepare should include food, medications, and other necessities your family may need,” he said.

Thank You

Hometown Heroes

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If you would like to receive our weekly column send your email address to jack.hill@senate.ga.gov

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Hats off to all the Hometown Heroes

JudyTypeProof_Layout 1 5/18/16 1:52 PM Page 1

The “Blue Mile” team places the ‘Boro among America’s Best Communities.

(Let’s walk with them to win it all!)

FMB thanks the Hometown Heroes who placed in the top 8 at the America’s Best Communities competition, netting $100,000 for their Blue Mile Master Redevelopment Plan.

Let’s all support them this year as they go for the Grand Prize: $3 million to revitalize the downtown-to-Georgia Southern “Blue Mile” corridor.

Plus they could make official what we’ve always known: Statesboro truly is America’s best!

Left to right: Hometown Heroes Phyllis Thompson, Mandi Cody, Bob Mikell.

Not shown: team members Darron Burnette, Keely Fennell, Allen Muldrew.

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HOMETOWN HEROES

statesboroherald.com | STATESBORO HERALD — Sunday, May 29, 2016 – 7C

Law enforcement: Communication key GSU, Statesboro, Bulloch leaders work together to ensure public safety

By HOLLI DEAL SAXON hbragg@statesboroherald.com

Unity between local law enforcement agencies in the community was the focal point of a public safety forum held in February during a meeting of the Leadership Bulloch Alumni Association.

Hosted at The Hall and catered by 40 East Grill, the breakfast forum allowed members to hear from law enforcement leaders with Georgia Southern University Public Safety, the Statesboro Police Department and the Bulloch County Sheriff’s Office.

GSU interim police chief Laura McCullough, Bulloch County Sheriff’s Chief Deputy Jared Akins and interim Statesboro Police chief Major Rob Bryan all expressed the same sentient during their short speeches; the working relationship between all three agencies is a strong community asset.

Each spoke about the growth and current status of their departments.

McCullough said her department has 42 patrol officers, with state accreditation and handles crime and other calls affecting about 21,00 students and 3,000 faculty and staff members on the 900-plus acre campus.

A point of pride for the department is an effort to ensure each officer and patrol car has cameras, which will enhance more than 1,500 surveillance cameras across the campus, she said.

The university plans to soon add a new position to improve student safety — an emergency management agency director, “who will work closely with Bulloch County Public Safety Director

Left to right, GSU police chief Laura McCullough, interim Statesboro Police chief Major Rob Bryan and Bulloch County Sheriff’s Office Chief Deputy Jared Akins.

Ted Wynn,” McCullough said.

Changes in law enforcement Bryan spoke about changes in the Statesboro Police Department, also praising the relationship between the three agencies.

In spite of questions about future leadership within all three agencies (Bryan and McCullough are serving in interim positions and Akins is seeking election as sheriff following current Sheriff Lynn Anderson’s pending retirement), communication and partnership are “better than it has ever been,” he said.

“Law enforcement in Bulloch County has changed,” he said. But, “We’ve always had that great relationship.

Improvement over the years has made it better and better.”

The City of Statesboro has seen a marked reduction in crime over the past few years, and Bryan credits training for part of that result.

“Training ensures officers turn out the best product possible,” he said, adding that offi-

cer training has increased exponentially over the past three years.

He told the group community relationships are also important and the Statesboro Police Department has many different community outreach efforts including the Citizens Police Academy and Youth Police Academy. Officers attended about 220 community events in 2015, he said.

“Getting to know the needs of your community is important.”

Suppression Team. The CST is one example of how the three agencies partner – members of the CST are made up of officers from all three agencies, and the work together to proactively reduce crime, especially drugs, he said.

All arrests in the county for the three agencies, Georgia State Patrol and other law enforcement go through the jail, which has a 475-person capacity and was almost full at 410 inmates Tuesday, he said.

The multijurisdictional cooperation results in a “tremendous partnership,” he said. “We’re doing ourselves a disservice if we don’t work

investigations regarding complaints against officers, reflective of the tension and attention to officer/citizen relationships cross the nation.

Akins again spoke of community relationships between law enforcement and citizens, stating that openness and accountability go far in keeping that relationship healthy.

Bryan said internal affair investigations are handled by the Georgia Bureau of Investigation, which are “known for strong investigations” and would ensure fairness in any case involving police/citizen issues or complaints.

The Statesboro Fire Department provides the following FREE Services to residents in the Statesboro Fire District

 FREE Smoke Detectors (Installed)  FREE Home Safety Inspections  FREE Fire Safety Education for your School, Church or Civic Group  FREE Tours of Our Stations  FREE Certified Child Safety Seat Installation Checks

BCSO divisions Akins, who has been chief deputy for three years, told the group most of the sheriff’s office costs are paid by taxes, but grants and money from seized property, as well as income from inmate concessions and communications, all help fund purchases that enable the department to ensure citizen safety.

The divisions under the sheriff’s supervision include the jail, law enforcement, court security, investigations, and the Statesboro-Bulloch Crime

together.”

He agreed with Bryan that a “strong community partnership” is also important.

Sheriff’s office representatives attend community events throughout the year, and strove for “approachability,” he said. “We’re not only here to help, but to also enforce the law.” The sheriff’s office, with just 26 patrol deputies, covers all of Bulloch County, including 73,000 permanent residents as well as over 21,000 students at GSU and other colleges.

Both he and Bryan addressed questions about use of force and internal affairs

FOR MORE INFORMATION, CALL: 912-764-FIRE (3473)

HOMETOWN HERO

8C – STATESBORO HERALD — Sunday, May 29, 2016 | statesboroherald.com

Recognize.

The signs of a heart attack can be different in women.

In fact, some women can experience a heart attack with no chest pain at all. So know the signs. If you feel them, get to an emergency room – fast. Call 911 and know that at East Georgia Regional Medical Center, we’re here to help when you need us.

EastGeorgiaRegional.com

East Georgia Regional Medical Center is directly or indirectly owned by a partnership that proudly includes physician owners, including certain members of the hospital’s medical staff.