From the Sheriff’s Desk: Remembering September 11
Sheriff's Desk September 11, 2017
From the Desk of Sheriff Christopher M. Clinton
Towns County, Georgia
Sheriff Chris Clinton
September 11, 2001 is a day I will never forget. I had spent the night before on a 12-hour shift as a patrol deputy. My wife woke me up to tell me about the first plane. As we watched in horror, we saw the first footage of flight 175 striking the south tower. I remember feeling like I had to do something. I did what a lot of other law enforcement officers did – I put on my gear and went back to work, without sleeping, in case I was needed. All of us knew that we were facing something we had never dealt with in the past. A lot changed that day.
We must always remember those who lost their lives and keep their families in prayer. American children are growing up without their mom or dad. Families have lost loved ones. We, as Americans, must always remember them and honor that memory.
On September 11, 2012, Ambassador Christopher Stevens, Sean Smith, Tyrone Woods, and Glen Doherty all lost their lives in an attack in Benghazi, Libya.
September 11 is also a day that Towns County Deputy James Taylor lost his life in the line of duty in 1981. Twenty years before the Twin Towers, a Towns County family suffered the loss of a father, husband, brother, and the whole community felt the loss of a local hero. I cannot help but to think of the Taylor family each year on this day. Deputy Taylor gave the ultimate sacrifice protecting and serving the people of this great county and we should remember his family in our prayers. The families of those who serve are affected much harder than the majority of people ever realize. We should all remember to keep these families in our prayers and especially those who have made the ultimate sacrifice.
This weekend I attended and had the privilege of speaking to a group of riders at their annual 9-11 memorial ride. My friend, Dr. Dan Eichenbaum, a local ophthalmologist, a Cherokee County, NC commissioner, radio personality (Dr. Dan’s Freedom Forum), public speaker, and all around patriot made a statement that I believe to be profound. He reminded us of the importance of remembering the sacrifices of those who gave all. He said, “A man does not die until he is forgotten.”
Let us never forget.
Georgia State Patrol Aviation Unit Lands in Hiawassee
News September 20, 2017
Hiawassee, GA – Soon-to-be graduates of the Citizen Law Enforcement Academy (CLEA) were given a firsthand look at a Georgia State Patrol (GSP) helicopter on Tuesday, September 19, at McConnell Baptist Church on Main Street.
Georgia State Patrol helicopter, once owned by best-selling author Patricia Cornwell
The second-to-last session in the 10-week series began with classroom instruction from GSP Corporal Paul Wofford on the history and operations of the state police aviation unit.
Georgia State Patrol Aviation Troopers, TFC Jamon Jones and Corporal Paul Wofford
Developed in 1974, the flight unit currently consists of 13 pilots and 12 aircraft. Each helicopter costs approximately $3.5 million dollars and each pilot flies an average of 250-300 hours per year.
There are six field hangars within the state of Georgia, located in Kennesaw, Albany, Gainesville, Perry, Reidsville, and Augusta.
The Georgia State Patrol aviation unit is dispatched to locate missing persons, aid in manhunts, assist with rescue missions, provide fire suppression, and capture aerial surveillance.
Towns County Sheriff Chris Clinton, Chief Deputy Colonel Terry Conner, and Sole Commissioner Cliff Bradshaw were in attendance.
The final class in the CLEA program will be held at the Towns County Courthouse next week, followed by a tour of the Towns County 911 Dispatch center.
CLEA VII graduation is scheduled to take place at 2:00 p.m. on Tuesday, October 3, 2017, at McConnell Baptist Church in Hiawassee.
Alumni are invited to attend.
For information on participating in a future Citizen Law Enforcement Academy course, contact the Towns County Sheriff’s Office at 706.896.4444
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From the Sheriff’s Desk: Sex Offenders
News, Sheriff's Desk September 4, 2017
From the Desk of Sheriff Chris Clinton:
I often receive calls and questions about sex offenders. These tend to occur when someone realizes that a neighbor is on the sex offender registry. Understandably, they are concerned about their family’s safety. The following information is provided in conjunction with the Georgia Sheriffs’ Association in the hope that it will help keep you informed and better able to take steps to keep yourself and your family safe.
Sheriffs’ offices are mandated by law to register sex offenders. These offenders are required to report to the sheriff’s office to register once a year, unless the offender is a predator, at which time he is required to register twice a year. The registration process includes collecting and verifying the offender’s registration information.
Although sheriffs’ offices manage the sex offender registry, they cannot track every movement. Therefore, citizen involvement is paramount. You – the citizen – must be aware of registered sex offenders who live or work in your community, and assume the responsibility of enhancing community safety and crime prevention.
Here are ways to become more involved.
• Research websites that provide registered sex offender information such as your local sheriff’s office website, the Georgia Bureau of Investigation http://gbi.georgia.gov/georgia-sex-offenderregistry and the family Watchdog at http://www.familywatchdog.us/.
• Understand the issues involved in sexual assault. Know the statistics. • Assume preventing sexual assault is everyone’s responsibility.
• Talk to your children about personal safety issues as they relate to child sexual abuse. Do this when you talk to your children about bike safety, crossing the street, or talking to strangers. It is, in many ways, just another personal safety rule about which children need to be aware.
• Increase your knowledge about risk reduction measures you can take to protect yourself.
• Invite your local law enforcement, probation/ parole department, rape crisis center, or child abuse prevention organization to a neighborhood discussion group to learn about the issue and to process people’s emotions.
• Get to know your neighbors.
• Organize neighborhood block watches, if desired, by your neighbors. • Do not wait until you are informed that a sex offender is living nearby to begin educating yourself and family on issues of sexual assault. • Find out what the statistics on child sexual abuse, adult sexual assault, offender arrest, and incarceration are in your community.
In Towns County, we keep a very close eye on sex offenders, but we cannot be everywhere all the time and we want you to be informed. If I can answer questions about any issue, please do
not hesitate to call upon us. We are only able to address the concerns we are made aware of. We stand, as always, eager to serve.
