You were fired for a reason......

I have to assume you directed that at me. If so you're wrong. First of all I'm not "Deputy Dawg" and I don't know who he or she is. Secondly I've never been fired from a job in my life. If you're going to be the self-appointed commentator for this community on this site I wish you would be sure of your facts. Many people come here and believe everything you type because you comment so frequently. Let's not forget what I was accused of, protecting a group of little league ballplayers at a baseball game, not abusing myself behind my desk while talking to Lyn Wang in Bejing China on my Government computer on Government time. Sorry for the run-on sentence. Please try to keep things in perspective.

The weather is nice, I like the rain. Haven't seen you on here, you been working alot.

I talked to Git last night, he is a hoot. I like the guy.

_______________________________
"Hope Changes Everything"

I thought we finished our conversation last week? What brought this on? Unless you changed blogger names, I think everyone knows you aren't depdawg. Nice try.

Have a good day, even though it is raining.

Skyspy, share it with us. Who was fired?

Think real hard there is at least one person who has an axe to grind. I won't mention the name here to protect the guilty. Yes, it is just a wild guess as to who depdawg is.

But I'm drawing a blank. You've been here longer than me. First initial only please.

I wouldn't touch that with a ten foot pony-tail lawyer.

Let's get back to the main point of the post. As an average citizen from the outside looking in this what I think, and many people I have talked to feel the same way:

First of all we know the Sheriff's race is between Hannah and Babb. We enjoy our safe crime free environment or "culture" and we won't give that up without a fight.

We have learned our lessons from clayton county, we will not elect someone who will attract black on black crime or condone it.

Nothing anyone tries to say about Hannah will change our minds, we know he is good and he is tough on crime. We love that. We love our Sheriff's Dept. they are doing a great job.

RIGHT!!

I agree with everything you said.

Let's see...

Dave Simmons

Nice Guy. Retired almost as long as Mindar has been in law enforcement. Detroit Experience--Great if this were Detroit. Grand standing as concerned citizen at NAACP Gang Forum. How did he get on the panel? Lived here since 1997, joined the NAACP after he announced for Sheriff. Truth challenged--Randall doesn't support him, if you don't believe it, ask Randall.

Wayne Hannah

Nice Guy. Worked for James Jones (Randall's predecessor). Been at the Sheriff's Office more than 32 years. Very progressive minded. "The Anti-Bruce (wink wink)". Very involved in community for YEARS. Attended the NAACP Forum as an interested observer to learn. Ask Randall about him.

Barry Babb

Nice Guy. Been at Sheriff's Office about 20 years. Moved from one job to another. Can't make up mind. Hates job. One day wants to move out of county further south, next day wants to quit to work with brother, next day doesn't want to run for Sheriff, next day finally decides he wants to be Sheriff (Go figger). Does Randall support him? Ask Randall. You might ask Barry, you won't find him in the office but you might find him where he thinks Randall might be going. Wonder if supporters will remain true when his clique shenanigans come up in debates? He didn't make it to the community gang fourm either.

Tom Mindar

Super nice guy. Doesn't have a clue. Wonder if he knows why Ben Thomas works in a auto body shop? Ask Tom to tell you why he left his last law enforcement job. I know, but if you ask Tom, blog it so someone else can put it out besides me. He really ought to wait until he gets elected to tell people who hes getting rid of (Can you say tall, white, Victor Hill). Ask Randall if he supports him? Bet the answer will be something like, I got three running. Colonel Hannah, been there a long time, a Captain named Babb, a good old boy, grew up here in the north end, and a deputy. Wasn't at the Community Gang Forum, doing the old elect me Dog and Pony Show for the Brooks City Council.

If you want positive change for our county, ask any public figure you know, or don't know for that matter about what they actually know them selves about Dave, Wayne, Barry, or Tom. Personal reputations are good for friendships but qualifications to be a law enforcement leader? Combine outstanding professional reputations, good personal reputations, and long term commitment to Fayette County and then you will know what to do.

I won't state the obvious in terms of who I think the next Sheriff should be. Thats obvious and its my opinion. Please don't mistake nice for qualified. SUMMARY--One has no qualifications, one has some qualifications, two have good qualifications althouh one has been retired for a long time.

Don't bury your head in the sand. Ask for your self, don't accept the candidates at face value, put them on the spot and do that often.

Lastly, thinking out loud, is it negative to point out someone's shortcomings if the public isn't in a position to see inside?

More pithy observations as the campaign season unfolds.

To say Mr. Simmons is "truth challenged" is an under-statement. All candidates should be vetted. In 12+ years he has not applied and competed with others for a Police Chief position where his professional background is better suited. Yet, he wants to be elected to the Sheriff's position where he has no experience or background. Appointment by a mayor calls for a background check and a critical measurement against others. Election to Sheriff can be a much easier process especially when you have no professional history in the area. The other candidates for Sheriff can be at a disadvantage since their professional record's will be called into examination. However, politics does have a much more rigorous vetting process. That process is at work now. Running for public office is not for the faint of heart. Like the old saying goes, "Buyer beware!"

Well Ed, allow me to retort. First off, who is the only candidate that you didn't insult? Oh yeah, Wayne. Why would you attack someone that isn't even a candidate? Ben Thomas has more experience and respect in his twenty-seven years of law enforcement than you will ever have sitting behind a desk for forty.

I know, I know, it wasn't you...again. Its not only a shame that you feel that you have to attack people to further your daddy's campaign but that you actually BELIEVE that people don't know who you are. You should wake up and smell what you are shoveling.

Let me just fill the public in on the WHOLE story. First off, Barry Babb is the ONLY candidate that has lived in this county ALL HIS LIFE. Secondly, the fact that some of the candidates didn't make it to the NAACP forum isn't really that big of a deal. I know that one of the candidates didn't even hear about it because he was in school down at the State Police Academy. Were you at the forum?

Next, whats all this about "clique shanenigans"? What do you call a locked traffic door? Are you worried about other deputies committing a Burglary? Another thing, I suppose that wanting to better one's self isn't a good enough reason to change departments. Or maybe the fact that the former Chief of Police was forced to resign/retire because of morale issues and hostilities towards officers. Is that a good enough reason? Lets not let the TRUTH get in the way. You never have in the past.

What did you mean when you said a "tall white Victor Hill"? Sounds a little racist to me. The sad thing is that I don't believe that Wayne put you up to this. Hopefully, as soon as Wayne reads this, maybe HE will do the right thing and stop all these spineless attacks you keep committing.

Oh yeah, your right. Mindar did talk to the City of Brooks town council and Mayor. How is that a dog and pony show? I suppose talking to citizens is just plain "kissing up"? That whole getting to know the citizens thing is crazy...

We all know who you think the next Sheriff should be. Its obvious, you work for him. And while your thinking of calling someone again and telling them it wasn't you, don't waste your time. Don't waste it like you did with this sorry attempt at concealing your identity and discrediting the other three candidates.

There is all kind of dirt out there ED. Best to leave it alone before something really old and bad comes up that would surprise even you.

We all know who you are. Oh, and by the way. That offer is STILL on the table.

Once again, I am being called out for something I didn’t do. Unlike the last time, I am guilty of having the positions similar to friends who choose to write in the paper. I have asked Ed to not post things he bases on our conversations but obviously this is not the case. I don’t disagree with most of what he wrote, but I am not the only person he talks with either. I tempted to out him here but he has told me he won’t do it again, so I won’t this time (Are we clear?).

I am sorry for having shared my thoughts with a friend and being gullible enough to believe that those discussions would not show up somewhere, sometime. I have blogged before and put my name on it and I’m doing it today.

I haven’t heard Barry Babb say a word, or heard anyone else attribute to Barry, what he would or wouldn’t do if he became Sheriff. I work with Wayne Hannah and talk with him on a daily basis; he has not said one single word to me about what his personnel plans are for when he takes office either. On the other hand, it’s nearly a weekly thing that I hear something else Tom Mindar has done or said he was going to do if he becomes Sheriff.

Desire and reality are two distinct things, for instance exactly how does one change a jail facility that was specifically built to be a direct supervision facility to an indirect supervision facility as he has alleged he would do? Well I don’t know, but I would start by talking to the people who do know before telling workers I was going to do it.

I would not, if I were running for Sheriff (which I am not), try to create turmoil in the work place by discussing personal salary information. How are people supposed to feel when they hear a candidate that wants to be their boss making observations about who is making what and that they wouldn’t be making that when he became Sheriff? What purpose did that serve except to create uproar within the department?

If I were running for Sheriff (and again, I am not), I would not call individual employees at home and tell them that their job was going to be eliminated and they were going to be re-assigned elsewhere in the department. That was probably the worst one--having to explain to some of those employees that didn’t get a call, that no, they weren’t going to lose their jobs and to others why the telephone call was not enough to be classified as creating a hostile work environment.

So anyway, I’d be naïve to believe that everyone likes or agrees with me. At some point, anyone who has risen to a position of authority, realizes that you can’t please everyone all of the time. I do what I think is right, the best way I know how. The results speak for themselves. I worry about solving problems that I can solve.

I’m not interested in your offer to “man up and step into the ring.” Why would I want to stand there and let you bust my face “wide open.” There are better ways to solve problems and disputes than physical violence, that’s a big part of why I don’t think you should be Sheriff. Law Enforcement is not about brute strength, its about having a balanced, informed, intelligent, and reasoned approach to safeguarding our community.

It would suit me just fine if Sheriff Johnson would stay in office, but I understand why he’s ready to take a break. 40 Plus years is a long time.

Now, in closing, I didn’t ask permission to respond to your accusations here in the blog; I’m reasonably confident that I’m going to be chastised for this. But I did not write the original blog, although I have spoken with the writer, those opinions are his.

Anyone who knows anything about the Sheriff’s Office knows you are talking about me. This is why I chose to respond to you here. You need to develop thicker skin and be sure of your facts 1st before you accuse.

Now, do you mind keeping this out of the press, you’re the one running for Sheriff, not me. By the way, it’s Ed’s opinion, that when someone doesn’t have a chance to win a race, they have to create controversy to get any notice. I agree with that to.

You know how to get in touch with me.

Bryan Woodie
Fayetteville, Georgia

Hannah is the best man for the job, inspite of his insisting on keeping you under his wing. Keep running your mouth and he will realize the liability that you are.
You have a 99% disapproval rating among the deputies. The only thing that causes pause among them considering their vote for Hannah is you. You have no credibility among most if not all of the Deputies.
If the defense attorneys did their homework, you would have no credibility in court. Georgia law requires prosecutors to notify defense attorneys of Police Officers who have previously been found to be untruthful. You were demoted a full rank by Lt. Col. Wayne Hannah. Only one reason was written on the demotion, "Untruthfulness" signed by Lt. Col. Wayne Hannah. When the defense attorneys learn this you will as useless in court as you are around the office.

Lt. Col. Wayne Hannah, please recognize quickly that Woodie is a weight on your shoulders you do not need.

A concerned supporter.

Thanks. I had already decided that my previous blog on this string my last, but really this will be it. Getting disciplined was the worst and best thing that has ever happened to me professionally. The worst because the incident was a mistake, but the best because it helped me learn that the higher in rank one goes, the greater the responsibility. My lesson had two parts; be very precise in both decisions and statements and admit the mistake, move on, and never do it again. I'll never forget those lessons, I'm glad you didn't either.

Bryan Woodie
Fayetteville, Ga

First of many thanks to all of you at the SO. for protecting us. Most of us really do appreciate all that you do.

The average citizen in the county knows the Sheriff's race is really between Hannah and Babb. It will be hard to choose. They both have great reputations.

Most of us from the outside looking in do not want change or upheaval at the SO.

Right now anytime we call the SO for help someone always answers the phone, and will help anyway they can. This has not always been the case with our police, that is why we call the SO. Thank you for extra patrols when needed. I don't want that to change. Right now we have a sheriff who gets out of the office and works with all of you. I don't want that to change. I don't want someone who sits around the office all the time playing computer games, or worse a sheriff who never shows up at the office at all. I know that goes over big in police depts. but we don't need that lack of work ethic here.
That is why it is only logical to vote for one of 2 men who have trained with Sheriff Johnson. We want someone who will continue to be tough on crime, and someone with a great work ethic.

I moved here 20yrs ago I think it is amazing how you have been able to protect us from the maggots of clayton county. It is a testament to all of your hard work. Good job. I think we will all be tested in the next couple of months. Last quarter 4,000 homes were reported in foreclosure in clayton county, hopefully they will spread to the north and east.....but...This is yet another reason that we need to keep our sheriff's office strong and we need a seemless change if Sheriff Johnson does retire.

Amazing. We obviously know the same people. Thank you for making my point. Clearly people have their own preferences as to who they would like to see as Sheriff. Its obvious you think you know who I am, and that okay. We're big boys, neither of us are running for Sheriff, he has to work there, I don't. Dish the dirt, I'm offering my opinion, whats wrong with that. Offer, had to look that one up. Adios.

First of all whoever Sheriff Johnson endorses will most likely win. That is a given. The only reason that we have not been over-run with maggots and roaches from clayton-crime county is because of our Sheriff and his officers.

Most us were part of the so called "white flight" really it was crime flight, from clayton-cesspool. We watched the maggots try to follow us daily. The fact that most of us have not been killed in home invasions is because of our strong sheriff's office. Hopefully we will have a new DA who will back up the SO's hard work with tough sentences.

It will be a tough choice between Hannah and Babb.

Then we have a someone who has been retired for 12+ yrs. from a city that is smaller than the size of this county....a city that has as much crime or more than Atlanta. His supporters, the naacp (that he very recently joined) keep talking about his experience with crime....umm yeah....if detroit is what successful crime fighting looks like I would hate to see the body count in a city that is a complete failure at crime prevention.

I don't know Mindar, but I heard he has no managment experience.

We certainly don't need someone like victor-fire-all-the-white-people-hill here. He has many lawsuits against him, for the "work" he has done for the taxpayers. The least we could ask for would be a sheriff who would not break the law himself!! To top it off crime over there seems to have increased. He brought the criminals with him ....like they didn't have enough problems as it was.

Cheer up, and wait for the Sheriff to make an endorsement.

Let me start off by saying that I was in law enforcement for 20 long years and worked in clayton county. I can tell you as sure as i am sitting here now that Fayette County did not have a gang problem until clayton county flooded this county.

Lets think about how they got here. Well the builders that convinced the county to put in all of these subdivisions on the north end started some of it. Well what happened, is all of a sudden they couldn't sell them so they sold them to the clayton riff raff for no money down, then after 3 months of living in a house they couldnt afford they get foreclosed on.

Everybody knows thats true. Clayton people wearing t-shirts that says "we took Riverdale, Fayetteville,s next". Doesn't that tell you something. Lets go a step further and say that the pavillion has brought alot of crime here. Check the parking lot 80% of the tags are clayton county cars. They shop here just to piss you off.

As far as the Sheriff's election there is no question who should be the next Sheriff. Its whoever Sheriff Johnson picks as his successor. That man has done a fine job for this county and furthermore he could still do it if he wanted to.

Beleive me i've seen what clayton county has to offer atleast 3 nights a week when I had to get out of bed and go stand over the body of another kid shot in a parking lot or a family tied up in their own homes by burglars.

The bottom line is Fayette County is fixin to get what it doesnt want. But the real question, is Fayette County ready for what its gonna get.Without Randall Johnson I doubt it. I had a guy that I arrested tell me after he had committed a robbery of a store that he thought was in clayton county, he said "go ahead and take me to jail MF i'll be out in a week.

I did with a big smile on my face get the pleasure of telling him > Sorry boss that store was in Fayette County and he busted out crying and begging for me not to turn him over to Fayette County. That just made my day. Good Luck Fayette County. Its coming. Good luck to the candidates for sheriff. You have some mighty big shoes to fill.

Peace

Randall might not endorse anyone. Publicly anyway.
I agree, we need someone like him who has fought tooth and nail to keep crime out of Fayette Co.

I think that might be Wayne Hannah, but I'll wait and hope to hear from the other candidates.

don't know what that is but it didn't work. we have crime.
what we need is the best we can find to run the jail and court protection, and a large county police force--hired professionally!

You don't know what tooth and nail is? It's an old saying, like ..a day late and a dollar short. Or..speak of the devil and he will appear.

I like this one: Speak little, hear much.

Not me!
I thought maybe tooth and nail meant a tooth knocked out by a careening nail! Couldn't see the connection however to fighting!
Most cops are a day late and a dollar short, I understand thatone, me and trent.
I have speaked of the devil and I didn't see him! That sounds like an opinion!
Why here much if you can't speak it?

I can spell better than you. lol ( most of the time) Who is tugs?

I do like the one: Speak little, hear much. Especially for certain people. Way to go TUG!

______________________________
"Hope Changes Everything"

Someone is showing their true colors again.

_____________________________
"Hope Changes Everything"

Yes, they are called lawyers, sometimes bankers, and developers.
They are somewhat older on average.

That my friend, was funny as heck.

________
In regards to Democrats, Republicans, gangs, and other scads of coterie Kool-Aide drinkers; Remember this..... Eagles Don't Flock

I agree, that was truly funny.

I yam what I yam....Popeye

if the situation was reversed.

Thanks for inquiring about my son!!!!

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Caution - The Surgeon General has determined that constant blogging is an addiction that can cause a sedentary life style.

I hope your son does well with surgery. It is hard to know what to do when you are in pain.

I almost forgot are you leaving today to go across the pond? Have a safe trip.

I leave tonight at 10:50. Thanks!!!!
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Caution - The Surgeon General has determined that constant blogging is an addiction that can cause a sedentary life style.

Do I remember correctly that you're going to Tel Aviv? Can I fit in your duffle? I saw Israel in 1980 and have always wanted to go back.

Leaving tonight and arriving at 5:40 PM their time. Flight time is listed as 10:30. This is my first time. I will stick my toe in the mediterranean.
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Caution - The Surgeon General has determined that constant blogging is an addiction that can cause a sedentary life style.

How long will you be there?
Take care.

Thanks. I'll give ya'll a shout when I get there.
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Caution - The Surgeon General has determined that constant blogging is an addiction that can cause a sedentary life style.

Be very careful and safe on your trip. Do they have anything good to eat or drink in that neck of the woods!?! Be safe.

Thanks!!! As for food, I have no earthly idea. Usually my body clock is so messed up that nothing is appealing for the first few days.
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Caution - The Surgeon General has determined that constant blogging is an addiction that can cause a sedentary life style.

I packed several boxes of cheese crackers and lived on them when in Israel. I had a little trouble with the food that was served in the hotels. No, I had a lot of trouble with some of it. It involved fresh vegetables, as I recall.

The last time I got really sick was in Guayaquil, Ecuador. Got in to the hotel about 5:00 pm and notice a very nice buffet at a very reasonable price. I found out as later that it was the lunch buffet and that food had been left out for a while. To make a long story short, I was able to make it back home before the dreaded "squirts" began.
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Caution - The Surgeon General has determined that constant blogging is an addiction that can cause a sedentary life style.

How old is Randall? If age is a problem with you, how old is he?

Randall is old, but he gets out and actively patrols everyday. We don't need someone to dust off computers at the SO.

So are choices are 3 men who have been successful at keeping crime out of the county since the late 70's early 80's when we all made our white flight here..

..or

We could vote for an unknown who has been retired for 12yrs. previous employment is unverified, and for a city smaller than Fayette county,... a city with 4 or 5 times the amount of crime. Uh, is that all...

Education is nice and these days if you want to make money in law enforcement you have to have at least a 4yr degree...more for detectives. That is just standard every agency offers a higher starting salary for cops with higher education. Thats not something new.

If detroit is the picture of successful crime fighting I would hate to see the body count where law enforcement has been a complete failure.

It's not a problem of age, it's a problem of retirement. Simmons has been out of the game for 12 years....Randall's been going at it for 20 or so and Hannah's been in the game for a while.

So why should voters choose a candidate who has been out of the game as opposed to a candidate that has not retired from law enforcement

(I'm not even going to mention the difference between Metro Detroit and Fayette County)
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"Triangle Park"? Give me a break.
They should have fixed Shamrock first.

SCHS '07. Drumline.

What kind of game?

I don't know any of the candidates so far, but I think the county needs to elect someone with no ties to anyone. Why must sheriffs have those who like him and those who don't?
The lack of a hired "professional" county police force is our problem. Politics shouldn't enter into it.

Simmons from what I have researched and actually listen to has not been idle for 12 years. He has experience in "gang" related crime as well as inner city crime in the city of Detroit as well as in Highland Park. He has resided in Fayette County since 1997. He comes with loads of education, FBI training and experience. Why wouldn't we want someone with this type of background working the advancing crime coming to us from Atlanta? It's not just crime coming from Clayton County anymore. And gang crime has never been an issue as it is today. What's been in the game has perhaps worked in the past, but may not in the future. Simmons hasn't been idle or dead for 12 years, ask the residents of Whitewater Creek about the technology now installed to provide security researched by Simmons. What I questioned is maybe Hannah, brought up with Randall is perhaps outdated himself. I would like to see his credentials, further education etc. these 15 years or so that he has been in office. I will be researching that and waiting to hear him in a campaign speech.

I see your point. But it doesn't sway my opinion. I'll wait til I hear these candidates during their campaigning.
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"Triangle Park"? Give me a break.
They should have fixed Shamrock first.

SCHS '07. Drumline.