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By Jeff Moore

Contributing writer

 

An internal email on calls involving the county’s schools that was written specifically for Cordele police officers recently sparked concern when it went public.

At the Tuesday, Sept. 17, Cordele Commission meeting, Police Chief Jalon Heard his school grounds directive led to concern and confusion in the community because it was not written for the public. He explained the Sept. 6 email was not written for a public audience, why it was written and the audience it was intended for the public, instead just for those who had been part of discussions within CPD.

“The directive was an internal email written in response to several incidents where the Cordele Police Department was expected to be the reporting agency on incidents that would be considered to have happened on school grounds,” Heard told commissioners. “Georgia law defines school grounds being on school campus on a school

bus, other transport furnished by the school and at public school bus

stops, there is a contract in place that gives the Crisp County

Sheriff’s office jurisdiction on school related calls for service.”

He said CPD responds and provides support to the sheriff’s

office as needed and officers will continue to do that.

The directive was meant to clarify city police roles and responsibilities on these calls. It was not saying the department would no longer respond when they hear a call involving the schools come through.

“It was not in any way meant to lower the level of service or to restrict

our response to school related issues. Again, keep in mind the

audience was the internal,” he said. “I want to assure everyone in the community that the Cordele Police Department remains committed to our duty to protect and serve all citizens.”

Heard said he wanted to assure the community that his department is committed to working along with all federal, state and local law enforcement agencies.

“We take an oath to faithfully serve and protect the communities in which we work and regardless of race age, color creed, we vow to faithfully enforced laws in the State of Georgia and local ordinances and to support and defend the Constitution of the United States and the State of Georgia,” he told the commission. “We take this oath very seriously. The men and women of the Cordele Police Department have and will continue to faithfully follow the oath that we all took. We will continue to do what is right to serve and protect our community uh that we love to the best of our ability.”

Heard thanked Commission Chairman Joshua Deriso for putting out a statement that was “100% right” that helped explain the situation better.

The chief said what it comes down to is the Crisp County Sheriff’s Office contract with the school division means city police should not be the initiating unit as far as taking the report.

Some misunderstood that the directive was saying they would not be the first responder to calls involving school property locations. Heard said the message in the internal memo is that CPD would not be writing the report.

“We will be responding as we always do,” the chief told the commission. “And again, at the end of the day, we’re gonna do what’s right. If they refuse to take the call, if they refuse to write the report — that’s happened in the past — we will do it. We’ve been doing it and we will continue to do it.”

Heard stressed again that his issue is the fact there are contracts in place that carry the expectation the sheriff’s office should be doing particular things and he believes they should do them.

A question was posed to the police chief about calls at bus stop locations that are within the city.

He explained the internal memo did not say they would not be responding to such a call, noting his officers would respond just as they always have.

 

“It’s the same response where we get the call and we respond to the area and the scene and we take charge of the scene and do what we need to do,” he explained. “When it comes to reporting the crime or

writing the report, that’s where we differ or that’s where I feel that

it should differ based on contracts that are in place is we would

normally take the report.”

CPD would normally make an arrest if they are needed too, he said, whether it be a juvenile or an adult. Heard noted that a call to a bus stop would be no different than any domestic violence call they received.

However, with the contracts in place, the difference is who writes the report.

“I feel that the sheriff’s department should be doing the report because there’s sometimes there’s confusion when, if we make an arrest, the school will then call us and try to alleviate the situation or rectify it in their own,” he said. “But at the end of the day, we’ve been answering the calls and we’ve been taking the reports and we’ve made arrests so he can

continue this business as usual.”

Heard explained this clarification is for the public on an email that was not intended for them. “It was an internal email and everybody internally understood the email,” he added.

Chairman Deriso thanked Heard for handling this in a professional manner and not a political one.

 

Alcohol license

Commissioners unanimously approved a beer only alcohol license to Slammin Sammis LLC to allow it to be consumed on premises. The business, located at 102 North 7th St. is owned by Shelby Jade Davis Brasher. The request for the permit was reviewed and approved for the commission to consider by Police Chief Heard.

 

For the dogs

Expect to see some K-9 friends getting exercise soon along with members of the Cordele Fire Department.

Fire Chief Todd Alligood told commissioners dogs from Cordele Animal Shelter will be joining them for work outs.

A supervisor at the shelter mentioned to the chief that she has noticed firefighters out getting exercise at the station and wondered if a few dogs could join them and get out of the kennel, Alligood noted.

“They get some exercise, you walk them. It’s a win, win for everybody,” he said, sharing the conversation with that supervisor. “So, we’re gonna give it a shot. Maybe it helps some of those dogs get rescued, they get a little more visibility, so we’re gonna give it a try.”

 

Event permit OK’d

The commission approved a permit for an upcoming event in Cordele.

Unanimous approval was granted for the Faith Event from 1-3 p.m., Oct. 5, on the sidewalk in from of Harvey’s Supermarket and Tesla Charging, 1011 East 16th Ave. St. Theresa Catholic Church is sponsoring the event with Tammy Teel as its organizer.

 

New police officer

Chief Heard announced that Cordele resident Jimmy Smith is joining the police department.

Smith has a bachelor’s degree and served in the military.

“That was a great hire,” he said.