Wednesday, October 2, 2002
Helicopter issue: Abolish role of sheriff, create county police

I agree that the Fayette County Sheriff's Department was wrong to buy a helicopter without approval of the County Commissioners. Apparently that office has unlimited confiscated drug money.

If that is the case, then let the sheriff pay all costs associated with the helicopter operation.

I sincerely believe it is time to abolish the Sheriff Department and the [county] marshal and establish a county police department to carry out those duties.

The sheriff stated he needed to hire more officers to add to the traffic enforcement. If he would stop patrolling the streets in Peachtree City and Fayetteville, he would have enough officers to patrol county roads.

I asked a Peachtree City policeman why the sheriff deputies frequently patrol the streets in Peachtree City and the reply was: "They do it because they can." It is time to curb the power of the sheriff.

Larry Robinson

Peachtree City

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