Wednesday, January 21, 2004

Save money by turning marshals into deputies

I read with interest John Thompson’s article, “Dunn speaks out on lawsuit.” As I read it, I thought, What is going on here? I thought back to my childhood when two of us kids fought over whose side would bat first.

It seems in this situation we have two pit bulls, Sheriff Randall Johnson and Commission Chairman Greg Dunn fighting it out to see who bats first.

Since I know both men, it seems to me that they both need to understand that the losers in this pit bull fight are the county’s taxpayers. We have to bear the cost of the lawsuit and counter lawsuits. I know both of them to be reasonable men. Yet, I do not think either has stopped to step back and let common sense dictate what should happen in this situation and save the taxpayers money and the Clayton County judge some time.

Let’s look at the facts in a practical way. First, the overriding question, it seems to me, should be, “Does the county really need both a sheriff’s department and a marshals office, with similar powers?”

Just because the marshals office was created back in the 1980s doesn’t mean we need such an office in 2004.

Conversely, the sheriff’s department is usually asking for more officers and staff in its budget requests.

Am I missing something? Why not just merge the two, cut some duplicate costs and save us, the taxpayers, some money that could be used for for needed services other than lawsuits?

Come on, Sheriff Johnson and Commissioner Dunn. Forget the pit bull syndrome, take off the boxing gloves and grip the bat to see who bats first.

Please, make up, shake hands and get on with the county’s business. I’ll even serve as referee if need be.

Dan Lowry

Fayetteville, Ga.