I'm surprised that this Dave person keeps reminding us that we need a Sheriff that has experience. He has been retired for 12yrs. from a police dept.

We do need a transition that will be seemless. We need someone who will be strong, tough on crime, already certified as a peace officer.

The only 2 people that have strong qualifications are Barry Babb and Wayne Hannah. Lets face it they have both trained under the Sheriff. They are both notoriously tough on crime. The choice is really down to these 2. They are both well respected. We don't need upheaval or change at the S.O. If it works don't fix it. Sheriff Johnson has kept us safe, because of his tough zero tolerance policy towards crime and criminals. Let's make sure we elect someone with his philosophy on crime.

His point of view? I've seen it far less than Steve Brown's columns in the Citizen, or Steve Brown's letters to the Editor, etc. etc. What do you call "regular" anyway?

As far as "equal time," who else has declared themselves as being a candidate? Like you mention, no one is officially candidate yet. So, how can the Citizen be somehow favoring someone or over anyone else who is only potentially a candidate at this point? I think the reason Simmons' thoughts were published is because it's timely, of interest, and The citizen generally prints that kind of material.I'm sure when someone else steps up and announces they are seeking the position The Citizen will print their opinions too.

The fact that someone's spouse works in the election office is totally a non-issue. Wow...he's going to find out information that is a public
record? If you were paying attention instead of just trying to find something to smear Simmons about, you'd notice that the head of the Elections Board has the same last name as the court clerk(an elected position) of Fayette County. Gee....could it be because they are married? You somehow didn't mention that at all so it must mean you could care less.

The election hasn't even started yet and the BS is just as thick as it was when Ben Thomas ran against Randall years back. Wonder what the similarity is? Hmmmm......

Like I said being a cop isn't a hobbie you can just pick up again after 12yrs.

I'm sure he is a very nice person. I do think it is very arrogant to think that after being out of the game for 12yrs you are still on the cutting edge of law enforcement. We need someone who has been actively fighting crime, who will be able to "hit the ground running". I believe a new sheriff has 12 months to qualify or certify as an officer, but we don't have that kind of time. As citizens we need someone who will be up to speed from day one.

I'm sure Sheriff Johnson will endorse someone who will keep the citizens of Fayette County safe for many years to come.

Yeah 12 years is a long time to be out of law enforcement.

And you're right Fayette is a heckuva long way from Detroit.

I've met Mr. Simmons and he seems more like a grandfatherly type to me than a sheriff type. If he wants people to vote for him he'd best come up with some specific solutions and not play things close to the vest like he did in his newspaper articles.

I've chatted with the cops and seems Mr. Simmons is the only one surprised about gangs being in the schools. IF the gangs are so bad how come the white flight hasn't happened like in Clayton County?

That said I agree with the police. Felony charges for all gang-bangers or wannabees who even ~look~ at the cops the wrong way.

All the more reason for the schools to have video surveillance in the halls, which if I'm told correctly all high schools have at the very least. Get it on tape and book 'em dano!

Anyone that doesn't think there is noticeable gang activity in Fayette County needs to get out more, and I'm not talking about hanging out with the inbreds at Melear's.

While the letter above is the usual "negative" bit on a candidate, I find it interesting he points out Bost's involvement in Simmons' campaign and fails to mention what a big booster of Eric Maxwell(a total joke)Randall was.

Saying there is a gang problem in Fayette is not being an "alarmist,"it's being a realist who is paying attention.

I haven't decided on who I'll be voting for in the sheriff's race yet, but the letter-writer above sure didn't sell me on anything at all except how "everything is great here...move along...nothing to see."

Our police and the Sheriff's Dept. are on top of the situation, that is how this kid got caught to begin with.

The only reason we are not clayton crime county right now is because of our tough Sheriff and his officers.

This dave person has been out of the game for 12 years. There have been lots of advances in lawenforcement in the 12yrs he has been retired. I admire old people who want to stay in touch, and still care about their community. I think it is a little arrogant for someone who has been out of touch with lawenforcement to assume that his experience from 12yrs ago would still be "cutting edge" today.

Just in the last year or 2yrs technology has taken off. You have to stay ahead of the criminals otherwise you will always be behind. Lawenforcement isn't a hobby you can just put down like basket weaving and then come back to 12ys. later and think you can pick up from where you left off. You have to stay on top all of the time or you are lost.

Maybe your right and hopefully his statements will help them pull their heads out of the sand.

I would tend to agree. We need to continue aggressive law enforcement.

By the way, since you are a lawyer, remember we wanted you to tell us about all of those lawsuits that the former Commission filed. You said you were going to defend your fellow attorney the County Attorney.

Understand you have been busy. Now that the County Attorney is gone, what is your opinion on all of those previous lawsuits ? And how about the Tyrone fiasco?

You might as well consider moving to Finland or Norway, as Fayette will gradually become more Hispanic and blackened. Like there are no "white" gangs! What a moronic argument!

Indocumentado my friend I thought you had fled, oops left the country. Why are you insulting law abiding (legal) citizens about their concerns regarding our current gang problem. Is it possible that you are currently breaking as many laws as these thugs. I am still waiting to hear what business you operate. I may still need your services.

Why should white people move?? We have lived here peacefully for many years.........

Would the gangs feel more comfortable if white people left?? How about if those of us who are Jewish left?? What would it take to make you feel comfortable??

I would rather stay.

...Hispanic and blackened.

blackened shrimp, blackened fish, blackened chicken...

can't you use a better term than 'blackened'? are you describing the menu?

put a lot of blame on the black families that have moved here. I know many of them and they are good people trying to do what we all are, ie, get a better life for themselves and their children.

I will however blame it on the rogue black teenagers from surrounding areas who see profits if they choose to burgle or steal from businesses or homes in Fayette County.

And you're right, black leaders are due a lot of the blame when they defend the wrongdoing of other blacks. We wouldn't tolerate it from white leaders and blacks shouldn't tolerate it from their leaders.

You might appreciate it if a cop would just bring your kid home with a warning once.
A court date every time is not necessary!
Maybe you don't have any?

What agencies are you most upset by, and please be specific. I have worked for two of the agencies in the county and can assure you that most officers don't unnecessarily "cite" your child. A violation of the law is just that. If that officers chooses to risk his life by stopping your child for a valid reason, as listed in the law book, you, your child, or anyother person should expect to be corrected, either by citation or warning. Sometimes warnings just arent what are needed. Sometimes your child commits such a boneheaded act they need a ticket, and sometimes the don't. There are agencies, and most specifically certain officers at all county agencies, that just pick on kids, and thats wrong, but blame the supervisors at those agencies, they know who they are.

I've been working my fanny off (checking in when I could) and haven't had time to post much but I just can't let this one go. Nit, the blame (as I said when the blogs were dealing with idiot posters supporting Fool Rahim) lies with the parents. If parents want their kids to be brought home with a warning, they'd make sure their kids were well supervised so that they wouldn't start their troublemaking with felonious behavior. I am sick and tired of parents of children charged with a crime saying, "why couldnt' you just give him a warning?" My only response to that is, "Why couldn't you just do your job as a parent and mold a decent human being?"

I see the seeds of failure being sewn into children's lives in ways that I just don't think most parents think about anymore. It starts with music laced with filthy words blaring from the car stereo while the todler is strapped in the back seat. Aside from the fact that the parent is damaging a developing child's hearing, they are also damaging a developing child's character. Then, there's the parent who lets their child watch television programs featuring children who back-sass adults. As an adult, those shows represent what you wish you could have said as a kid, but had better sense than to try it. But young kids have not developed the judgement to keep the sass in their heads. So, they go to school and sass their teachers, they sass the neighbor who corrects them for misbehaving or, worse, they sass the police.

Parents allow their kids to watch television shows with sexual content and then wonder why their kid gets caught doing more than the you-show-me-yours-I'll-show-you-mine stuff of yester-years. Parents don't bother to get to know the parents of their children's friends. So, when they send their child off to someone else's home, they don't know what that kid's parents do for a living, don't know if those parents allow their kids to do and see things they don't allow in their own home and don't know who else will be in the house while their child is visiting. I could go on but the likelihood is that the parents who need to read this aren't checking these blogs; they're too busy earning the payments on the Escalade or taking their tennis lessons.

Now, I have no doubt that some parent is going to respond that kids do stupid things and that we shouldn't bring life-altering consequences on them at such early ages. Take note: in this county, if you don't bring behavior-modifying discipline to your household then, the justice system will -- with the full support of the community -- bring life-altering punishment on your kid.

But bad parenting is not a black issue. It's not a white issue, a Hispanic issue or a village issue. It's a wakeup call to parents to DO YOUR JOB.

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If you and I are always in agreement, one of us is likely armed and dangerous.

Agree with the direction voiced by swmbo! Way too often, parents will attempt to 'excuse' bad behavior of their kids without understanding that their failure to correct BAD or CRIMINAL behavior is only going to encourage more of the same! Have seen posts on this site of parents attempting to blame others for their kid's lack of judgment, or failure to to adhere to the RIGHT!

To often, our public education system has been blamed for 'not educating' the masses. Think that swmbo's comments transcend bad behavior, and would also include parental responsibilities in getting their kids through high school with a diploma --- that they can read.

Could it be that the time is coming when parents will start being held responsible for their kid's behavior? What would be the effect of charging parents 'room and board' costs of their kids when they were incarcerated?

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) -- Jane Hambleton has dubbed herself the "meanest mom on the planet."

After finding alcohol in her son's car, she decided to sell the car and share her 19-year-old's misdeed with everyone -- by placing an ad in the local newspaper.

http://www.wxiatv.com/news/watercooler/article_weird.aspx?storyid=109264

It is a combination of many things that have led to this heightened criminal activity in our county. Yes, the unsavory elements are infiltrating into our county. Where there is prosperity, those without want it also.
What is a problem also are the parents. There are parents that work many hours away from home far away. Some have a stay at home parent, others have no adult in the home. The parents need to communicate with their teens. Know what they are thinking, who they spend time with, and so forth. To be really involved, and for the teen to know what the parent expects of them, and that the teen can go to the parents for guidance. These parents are completely tuned to themselves. They buy their children material goods to show love, or occupy them, while the parents do what they wish to. What teen wouldn't act out or cause trouble? They know their parents have checked out.
Another issue I see are the rentals. Property management companies, and homeowners that are not interested in what comes into our neighborhoods. They only want to collect the rents, and some small modicum of care about the maintenance. The renters are they as concerned about the community as the locals? Are the parents in these rentals reminding their children, they are in Fayette school district, not Clayton? This is the children's opportunity to achieve a decent education and the future of higher learning, leading to a better adulthood?
The criminal element, we can only keep our eyes on and be proactive with law enforcement. The teenagers in and out of the county are in the hands of the parents. Perhaps all adults in Fayette need to take a class or two on pride of Fayette, and raising responsible children. I'm sure everyone needs a refresher course at one point or another, or a new perspective in the raising of teenagers. Lord knows I'm going through the pre-teen stage, and I can use any new tactics available to keep mine in line.

Most of what these kids are involved in today does not deserve a warning it deserves jail time. Drugs, guns, DUI, Breaking and Entering, Stealing......all of that demands a serious response.

Fortunately for us our Sheriff's Dept. has been enforcing the law. Big thanks to Sheriff Johnson and whoever he endorses to replace him.

every time isn't necessary?

Gimme a break! If there is more than one time, parents have failed.

Blaming the 'village' won't cut it with me.

While I agree that parents should shoulder some of the blame for this problem, the real issue here is that unsavory individuals are making their presence felt in Fayette county at an alarming rate. The majority of these individuals are black Americans. There, I said it. Anyone who denies that the recent spike in crime has anything to do with the recent influx of black Americans to our county is a liar. It's been happening relatively slowly but the last few years have really seen a marked acceleration. What are law abiding citizens to do? Any attempt to stifle this trend or nip it in the bud will without a doubt cause many to cry foul and hurl accusations of discrimination and racism. Citizens who've lived here for many years and built a life here will put their tail between their legs and eventually move further down the road once things get bad enough. It doesn't take a genius to notice the pattern. Our worse days are ahead of us.

Can we deport these black americans back to Africa?

I’ve been reading this website for a few years, and never felt compelled to post despite some of the more outrageous comments and presumptions that some of the posters seem to take as gospel. However, due to the phase of the moon, the NH primary results (I’m in mild mourning over Ron Paul), the fabulous season that the Celtics are having, the fact that the stock market is crashing and I actually made some prudent moves in anticipation of this, or some such other nonsense, I feel compelled to offer what I believe to be a somewhat unique POV for this board.

First off – and how I really wish this were irrelevant, but to many I know it’s not – I am a black resident of Clayton County who has lived there for 18 and ½ years. I feel your pain (hee hee – I couldn’t resist!). We - meaning the hardworking, law abiding, property tax-paying citizens of Clayton County (and despite the perception, we come in all shades) – have been dealing with the same issues that you are, but for much longer, dating back to the 1996 post-Olympic influx of “riff raff” into the county. But just for the record, I (and many of my dark-skinned ilk) recognize no self-appointed or media-appointed individual as our “black leader (which is a ludicrous concept if you really think about it),” I don’t tolerate lack-of-character issues without addressing them within my own family, and I sure as heck keep a .40 caliber Glock in the night stand because I know I live in the midst of a statistically significant high crime area. In other words, life is what it is and we all must do what we can to experience it to the fullest, while recognizing that so much of what happens – including “the accident of birth” of being born to whatever family, place, and situation we were – is out of our control.

My point? I am just as frustrated over criminal behavior as you are, but having grown up in central Alabama during the late 50’s through the late 70’s, and then having lived in many places in virtually every region of this country until the late 80’s, I know that race isn’t the root cause of the problem. A lack of character and ethics is, and this exists in all shades and all locales. Yes, there are a disproportionate number of violent crimes being committed by blacks in this neck of the woods, just as there are disproportionate amounts of pedophilia and serial murder crimes being committed by whites, but so what, right? Despite the statistics, I would never condemn all whites (or even "most" whites) as being nothing more than a bunch of pedophiles and blood thirsty mass murders. The individuals who commit these crimes do so not because of race, but because of mental illness, lack of character, because they are plain evil, or some combination thereof – period.

Sadly, so many of us have become conditioned to react to life situations based upon the race (and the prevailing stereotypes) of the accused and/or the convicted that we’ve lost all sense of perspective, common sense, and empathy.

"Your" struggles, "your" goals, "your" desires, and "your" frustrations aren’t so very different from mine, so I hope that each of you will keep that in mind every time you are tempted to spout off out of frustration and anger, fear or ignorance, or honest-to-goodness feelings of superiority and divinity-granted entitlement and decide to paint an entire county, race, etc...as the bane of your existence. I hope that some of you will realize that some of the reactions associated with those types of attitudes and beliefs are as much of a bane to me - a self-professed model citizen - as are the actions of the criminals, no matter what race they may be. I think that those of us committed to a higher quality of life must learn to place blame where it belongs - on the individual perpetrators - if we expect to realize and maintain the quality of life as a community that many of us envision.

Peace out...

I'm sure Hilton's victims would agree with that... what could be safer than a 60 yo white male with a dog? I'm sure that the Cheryl Dunlap, the Duncans, Meredith Emerson, and gawd only knows who else, thought that since he wasn't a thug, they were safe.

Yes, statistically, black males perform many crimes against other races, mostly burglary and robbery, but they tend to kill each other. For the horrific crimes that keep us awake at night, shuddering at any sound, is almost exclusively white males.

I'm not saying this to excuse the increase in crime that is coming in from the north and the Southeast. I agree that the parents and the community has to stand up to these individuals and say "not here." Personally, my family fled Decatur to come to Fayetteville back in the 70's, so I'm aware of the white flight syndrome. Now the homes in Decatur are up close to the 7 figure mark. I'm not running any more. I love Fayetteville, and I'm not going anywhere.

note the key word "Americans"

I yam what I yam....Popeye

Mmmm....my geography teacher showed me a map where America included from Canada in the northern hemisphere to Chile/Argentina in the southern hemisphere. So, all Hispanics happen to be "Americans".

So are all black Americans, isn't that what we were discussing?

I yam what I yam....Popeye

I grew up in Dunwoody and watched the same activity move up Buford Hwy and Peachtree Industrial Blvd to take over Chamblee, Doraville, and eventually Dunwoody (MARTA helped bring it to Perimeter Mall and beyond)over the course of 15 years. It's not a race issue as much as it is an economic one. A few run down rental homes in an area, apartment complexes that lower new-tenant standards and communities that aren't staying on top of the schools and law enforcement. People give up and move away...taking jobs, their home and community improvement dollars(and standards) with them...leaving the community in the hands of people who are on the very the edge of surviving economically. It can be Hispanics, black people or white people. Bottom line...you want to prevent gang activity, hire a teen and help them learn how the world really works, keep your community standards high, lean hard (very hard) on school officials, county government and law enforcement to do more than wring their hands at the problems.

The city I'm from, a suburb of Boston, was completely overrun by gangs years ago and is now a shell of its once great self. I've been watching things here in Fayette for a while and believe me, we've had a problem for a while. Where I'm from, and I won't mention it here, kids used to be able to walk to the corner store unattended, parks were safe. Now, you arent even safe in your own home and most of the families who had houses there for generations have left. Many houses now are burned out or abandoned crack houses. Mr. Simmons is right, we still have a chance to prevent Fayette from becoming another Riverdale. First, parents and kids. Parents, you have to be involved in your kids lives. My kids sometimes hate me because I impose on them...I want to know the who, what,where and when of their friends, emails, text messages, myspace as well as their whereabouts. Failure to comply brings consequences that are strict. Second, the Police need to use good judgement. Not every offense done by a teenager deserves an arrest and court date. The Police have a good understanding of our community and know the repeat offenders. They also recognize when a kid makes a just plain dumb decision. I remember being told by a police officer to empty out the beer onto the ground, given a good lecture and ordered to go home and not get caught again. I didn't need a court appearance to realize what I did was dumb. I also know people who were breaking and entering, shoplifting and worse who went to jail and got a court date. They deserved it. Common sense here. Also, more police officers. I'm all for hiring more police and using as many traffic cameras as possible so our officers can patrol neighborhoods and shopping centers instead of having to patrol for speeders and other traffic offenders. I can't tell you the last time I saw a police car patrolling my neighborhood. If there were more neighborhood patrols and people got to know the officers who patrol their neighborhood, neighborhoods get a lot safer. Third and probably most important, everyone in this county needs to wake up and smell what is being imported into the county. Gangs, drugs. Denial is the easiest way to lose the Fayette we all love. Race, immigration status etc. don't really count. Gangs cross all boundries. They accept whomever is willing to join. The present a sense of belonging to kids who feel they don't belong somewhere else. That's why #1 is so important. Parents who are involved with their kids have them in activities, church, and keep on them about grades in school so that they don't have idle time to get into trouble. Finally, while I'm on this rant, back home, one of the best hangouts for gangs...abandoned shopping centers. Seems like that has been, and still is, an issue in Fayette County for a while now. Instead of allowing super sized stores we really don't need, why not fill the existing spaces. All Government bodies in the County need to work on that.

You are so so right. Parental involvement is very critical. Unfortunately, it's missing as some parents are distracted.

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