Jackie Barr. Vincent Hill. Derwin Brown. Randall Johnson? Or, if not Randall, Bruce Jordan in the future?

I hope we never see Mr. Johnson’s name added to that list. But I have a hard time understanding why he seems to have a problem following the law as I understand it in regards to being open to the county commission regarding his spending.

Any citizen can read the entire law and the statutes as they apply to the relationship between county commissions and sheriffs, as I did. I keep hearing or reading bits and pieces of the law quoted out of context. These bits can completely mislead.

I believe we have the makings of a “Johnson-Gate” in the works. I have always been a staunch supporter of him in regards to law enforcement. However, I understand that power without check can corrupt in ways that are sometimes hard to note as a rule is bent here.

From all that I read, Georgia law understands and provides that every government body must have some oversight. For the sheriff, financial oversight is to be provided by the county commission.

Why does Mr. Johnson have a problem with this? Why should the county commission and, by extension the public, be expected to write a blank check to the sheriff without any accountability?

Mr. Johnson will tell anyone who asks that he is a constitutional officer and thus is responsible to the citizens of the county. That sounds good.

We vote for individuals and we can vote them out of office. However, how many of you who may be reading this letter (if it is printed) have seen how any governmental body is spending their money?

How many of us know how many employees it takes to run a department?

How many of us would even understand if somehow we were allowed unfettered visibility of records?

Does anyone really believe that we would know if someone in the sheriff’s department was abusing their power?

Many of us know and like Randall Johnson. My tendency is to want to trust him. However, I also trust Mr. Dunn and the other county commissioners who all are walking in lock-step on this issue.

I have talked to past county commissioners; this is a problem that has long been brewing and this county commission is the first to be willing to tackle it. Kudos for taking on a tough issue and for trying to solve it before it hits “gate” status.

My biggest concern is for the future. The county has changed. We are no longer the kind of county we were when Randall took office over 20 years ago.

He is going to be retiring, possibly this election cycle or the next, I would think. What happens to the department when he leaves? Will his successor become the next Jackie Barrett or Vincent Hill?

What is wrong with complying with the law now, before we have a scandal that rises to state-wide attention?

Randall could do us all a great service by allowing the law to function as it was intended and set up a system that avoids any future impropriety.

His legacy has been a good one in regards to law enforcement. I hope that is what we remember him for, not for bad judgment in regards to fiscal policies.

S. J. Smith
Fayetteville, Ga.