Public safety workers receive salary increase
News September 13, 2022
FORSYTH COUNTY, Ga. — While many Democrat-run counties are still working to de-fund law enforcement and other public safety employees, Forsyth County has decided to in a different direction, awarding a salary increase of up to 16 percent.
With the Board of Commissioners’ passing of the FY 2023 budget on Aug. 18, certified public safety employees of the County’s E911 Department, Fire Department and Sheriff’s Office will receive a 4
percent Cost of Living Adjustment (COLA) beginning Sept. 26, 2022. These employees are
County Manager Kevin Tanner
also eligible to receive a salary increase of up to 12 percent beginning Jan. 1, 2023.
“Forsyth County is one the safest places to live and work in Georgia,” said County Manager Kevin Tanner. “This is only possible because of the dedication of our law enforcement, fire and 911 personnel.
The Forsyth County Board of Commissioners values these employees and continues to do everything necessary to ensure that we can offer one of the most competitive pay and benefit packages in the
area.”
The salary increases are based on market salary information used to ensure new salary rates are competitive in the metro Atlanta market. With this increase, Forsyth County will provide one of the highest salaries in the state for public safety.
The County’s recruitment efforts go beyond public safety with other recent Board decisions to attract and retain talent County-wide.
“Forsyth County took another substantial step forward for all County employees by creating a student loan payback program, a tuition reimbursement program and increasing the County’s 401(k) retirement contribution to a maximum of 15 percent,” said Tanner.
Along with these initiatives, the adopted 2023 Budget allows for Forsyth County to conduct a comprehensive Market Salary Study which will include all personnel, including civilian employees who
currently work for a public safety department.
Below are statements from Forsyth County’s public safety leaders.
Sheriff Ron Freeman
Fire Chief Barry Head: “This new pay initiative is a welcome upgrade for the public safety professionals of Forsyth County and a clear indication of how seriously our Board of Commissioners takes their duty of providing for a safe community.
Sheriff Ron Freeman: “With the recent salary and compensation adjustments for the Deputy Sheriffs of Forsyth County, we are now poised to be among the best paid Sheriff’s Offices in Georgia. In light of the ever-competitive recruiting market of metro-Atlanta and the severe shortages seen nationwide in the law enforcement profession, these adjustments are putting FCSO back into a competitive position to find the best and brightest to serve Forsyth County.
A second Lambert High Student is arrested for making terroristic threats
News December 17, 2021
FORSYTH COUNTY, Ga. – For the second time this month, Forsyth County deputies arrested a student at Lambert High School who allegedly threatened to cause harm students at the school.
The unidentified 15-year-old male student allegedly attempted to solicit a gun from another student to carry out the assault. Based on the evidence obtained during an investigation by the Forsyth County Sheriff’s Office, a juvenile arrest warrant was taken against the boy who was transported to the Regional Youth Detention Center in Gainesville.
Sheriff Ron Freeman said the actions of a few students prevented a potential tragedy. “These students had the courage to come forward and report this danger to the staff at the school exemplifying See Something, Say Something,” said Freeman. “We will continue to exhaustively investigate all threats and those making them will be arrested. Our 43 dedicated School Resource Deputies work daily alongside our school partners to keep Forsyth County Schools Safe. Kudos to the Lambert High School staff for their quick action and assistance in this investigation. No other students were involved in this threat and the danger from it has been eliminated.”
School threats have increased nationwide in the past few months and Forsyth County is not alone in this troubling time. This serves as an excellent opportunity for parents to speak with their children on the importance of See Something, Say Something and remind them of our school safety hotline 770-888-3466. Students can call or text the hotline and remain anonymous.
UPDATE: Lambert High student arrested for making terroristic threats
Featured Stories, Press Release December 10, 2021
PRESS RELEASE
Forsyth County, Ga. –On December 9, 2021, the school resource officer at Lambert High School was made aware of a threatening e-mail received by Principal Davidson. The Forsyth County School Resource Deputies and Major Crimes Unit worked quickly to identify the individual and remove him from class. Based on the evidence obtained during the investigation, a juvenile arrest warrant was taken against the 16-year-old for Terroristic Threats, a felony. He was taken into custody and transported to the Regional Youth Detention Center in Gainesville.
“School threats and violence have no place in our community. The Forsyth County Sheriff’s Office takes every threat seriously and we will leave no stone unturned nor spare any expense to resolve these and keep our kids safe. Our 43 school resources deputies work alongside our school partners every day to make this happen,” said Sheriff Ron Freeman.
The message below was sent to Lambert High School parents/guardians this morning. Principal Gary Davison also met with his staff to inform them and shared the information with his student body.
Lambert HS Parents/Guardians,
I am writing to inform you that yesterday evening, December 9, a junior at Lambert HS was arrested for making terroristic threats to do harm at our school. As you know, the safety of our students and staff is of the utmost importance to us and is a responsibility that we do not take lightly.
We are deeply thankful for the assistance of our district’s School Safety Department and the Forsyth County Sheriff’s Office throughout the investigation. While we are unable to share more details with you due to minor/student confidentially laws, please know that the individual did not have access to weapons and will not be returning to our school.
As always, we encourage student, parents/guardians, and staff to “see something, say something” to keep our school and community safe. I will be sharing this information with our students this morning, and staff will be available to assist them throughout the day with any concerns that may arise relative to this information.
Dr. Gary Davison, Principal
Sheriff’s Office extends Pups with Purpose program
Press Release November 23, 2021
PRESS RELEASE
FORSYTH COUNTY, Ga. — In mid-2019, Sheriff Ron Freeman announced the implementation of the Pups with Purpose dog program at the Forsyth County Jail. The program gives carefully selected inmates an opportunity to give back to society by providing foster care and basic obedience training to homeless, unwanted dogs while enhancing their own social and vocational skills to help them better succeed once released from jail. The participating inmates are those in our Residential Substance Abuse Treatment (RSAT) program who applied for the Pups with Purpose program and, once assessed, were accepted.
Pups with Purpose has dramatically impacted the recovery program, providing a purpose and sense of serving others to the participants. Thus far, 15 RSAT inmates have partaken in the program. Additionally, the program has successfully found adoptive families for 69 rescue dogs that otherwise may have been euthanized.
Without incredible partnerships, the program would not be possible. Dog trainer and owner of Fido’s World, Scot Rucker, heads up the training provided in the program, donating his services to assist with training the dogs while educating the inmates and the deputies assigned to the program. The Forsyth County Animal Shelter provides the rescue dogs, their food, and medical care while they are in the program.
Earlier this year, Rose, a graduate of the Pups with Purpose program and Canine Good Citizen, was adopted by the Cobb County District Attorney’s Office, where she will serve as a therapy dog for adult and child crime victims. Today, Sheriff Freeman is proud to announce that the Pups with Purpose program is officially extending to include Canine Good Citizen training. This additional training will provide more therapy dogs to other agencies, businesses, non-profits, and citizens. Therapy dog training has been a goal for the program since its inception. Recently, a litter of seven Labradoodle puppies was surrendered to the Forsyth County Animal Shelter, which posed an opportunity to move forward with the extension.
The puppies joined the first official Pups with Purpose therapy dog class when they were eight weeks old. They began working with the RSAT participants on basic obedience, general exposure, and house training. The Sheriff’s Office sent out an announcement for applications to departments throughout the county, along with a thorough list of requirements that included both the handler and department’s commitment to the 15+ week training requirements and the successful completion of the Canine Good Citizen’s (CGC) assessment.
Various departments submitted applications, and an approval process began, including interviews and home/work visits. Selected applicants were assigned a puppy from the class that met their residential and work environment needs. On December 1st, the puppies will be released to their new handler to be fostered until completion of all required training. After graduation from the final CGC class, the puppies will be certified therapy dogs and will be officially adopted by their handler/department.
“Pups with Purpose is changing lives, both inside the jail and beyond its walls. I’m so very proud of the deputies, our partners, and the inmates who have done an incredible job training these pups to serve others. A huge thank you to Fido’s World and owner Scot Rucker for his tireless volunteer efforts to help this program succeed,” says Sheriff Ron Freeman.
Sheriff to seek approval to accept grants at Tuesday’s BOC meeting
News October 11, 2021
Sheriff Ron Freeman
ForFORSYTH COUNTY, Ga – Sheriff Ron Freeman will request the Board of Commissioners to approve the awarding of several grants when it meets in a work session Tuesday Oct. 12 at 2 p.m. in the County Administration Building, 110 East Main Street in Cumming.
One grant is the FY 2022 Governor’s Office of Highway Safety HEAT grant with federal funds in the amount of $77,680.64 with a 60% match required. A second is the FY 2021 State Homeland Security Program/CERT, Project #13 Grant, in the amount of $11,306 (no match required). The third is for the FY2021 State Homeland Security Program/ EOD K9, project #50 Grant in the amount of $73,500 (no required match).
Other agenda items to be considered include:
- Approval to purchase five additional Outdoor Warning Sirens as a Sole Source Purchase with ATI Systems for the Emergency Management Agency n the amount of $146,067.00
- Approval to award Bid 21-115-3150 for Emergency Repair Pipe Lining and Grout at Chamonix Drive for the Department of Engineering to Chase Reline, Inc. in the amount of $203,300.00; SPLOST VIII funds.
- Approval of Change Order #5 with Archer Western, LLC on the Fowler Reclamation Facility Expansion Project for the Department of Water and Sewer;
- Approval to award RFP 21-110-1562 to Foresite Group for as-needed third party review of Cell Tower Conditional Use Permit Applications for the calendar year 2022 for the Department of Planning and Community Development;
- Approval to award RFP 21-112-5211 to Game Time for the Eagle’s Beak Park Playground Design and Installation for the Department of Parks and Recreation in the amount of $299,645.87;
- Approval of Amendment #5 to the Task Order with CH2MHill Engineers, Inc. for the Fowler Reclamation Facility Expansion Project in the amount of $47,508.00;
- Approval to issue a Task Order to Precision Planning, Inc. for Field Survey, Utility Relocation Design, Permitting, and Construction Support Services for the Post Road Widening from Kelly Mill Road to SR 20 Project in an amount not to exceed $192,715.00;
- Approval to issue a Task Order to Precision Planning, Inc. for Water and Sewer Field Survey, Utility Design, and Construction Support Services for the SR 9 at SR 369 Connector/Bannister Road Project in an amount not to exceed $85,870.00;
- Approval of the Sheriff’s Office request to change designated official pertaining to Criminal Justice Coordinating Council Law Enforcement Training Grant Award #K-75-8-017 with authorization for the Chair to sign associated required document;
- Approval of a Resolution authorizing a 5% sewer service and reuse water rate increase for the Manor Development;
- Approval for the restoration of the Tolbert Street Cemetery by Leadership Forsyth as its 2021/2022 class project;
- Direction regarding a County-Initiated Sketch Plat for a 20,720 sq. ft. addition to an existing 76,000 sq. ft. office/manufacturing facility on 5 acres currently zoned Restricted Industrial District (M1)
- Presentation of the FY 2022 Proposed Budget with the request for authorization to advertise for a Public Hearing to occur on November 4, 2021 at 5 p.m.;
- Direction regarding use of American Rescue Plan funding for County commercial sewer projects;
- Consideration of proposed amendments to the Board of Commissioners’ Rules and Procedures regarding Proclamations and/or Ceremonial Resolutions;
- Consideration and possible direction regarding the redrawing of district boundary lines;
- Consideration of a First Amendment to the Tower Site Lease Agreement and Memorandum between the Board of Commissioners of Forsyth County and Crown Castle Towers 06-2 LLC;
- Approval of a quit claim deed in favor of Arthur Carrasco and Lillian Carrasco (1295 Rockbass – Riverbrooke Subdivision) related to a delinquent sewer payment lien associated with Waterscape Utilities;
- Approval of a resolution to condemn property interests in parcel 11 of the Old Atlanta Road, Phase IV, Project No. WID 0208-1 with estimated just and adequate compensation: $70,800.00;
- Authorization for the County Attorney to execute and file with the Superior Court a Consent Order and Judgment resolving all issues in the condemnation involving Bethelview Road Parcel 213 in the amount of $ 71,100.00 with authorization for the Chair to sign a Quitclaim Deed releasing the permanent easement to the owners, Jerry and Barbara Bagley, subject to the terms of the Consent Order and Quitclaim Deed that the owners maintain the drainage in the area of the permanent easement;
- Board consideration and possible direction regarding a County-Initiated rezoning from A1 to M1 with a variance to the sewer distance requirement, Parcel 250-172;
Sheriff’s Office awarded grant for local DUI enforcement
Press Release October 8, 2021
ATLANTA – The Governor’s Office of Highway Safety has announced that the Forsyth County Sheriff’s Office is one of 21 law enforcement agencies in Georgia to receive a Highway Enforcement of Aggressive Traffic grant for the Federal 2022 Fiscal Year. Referred to as a H.E.A.T. grant, Forsyth County Sheriff’s Office’s award totals $77,680.64.
The goal of the H.E.A.T. program is to combat crashes, injuries and fatalities caused by impaired driving and speeding, while also increasing seatbelt use and educating the public about traffic safety and the dangers of DUI.
The Forsyth County Sheriff’s Office H.E.A.T Unit will use the grant from GOHS to develop and implement strategies to reduce local traffic crashes due to aggressive and dangerous driving behaviors.
“With the increase in the number of persons killed in traffic crashes in Georgia and across the nation over the last year, the Governor’s Office of Highway Safety is working with partners like Forsyth County Sheriff’s Office to implement programs designed to stop the risky driving behaviors that are contributing to a majority of our serious-injury and fatality crashes,” Allen Poole, Director of the Governor’s Office of Highway Safety said.” “Many of the fatal traffic crashes on our roads are preventable, and we will continue to work with our educational and enforcement partners to develop programs and initiatives that are designed to get Georgia to our goal of zero traffic deaths.”
H.E.A.T. grants fund specialize traffic enforcement units in counties throughout the state. The program was designed to assist Georgia jurisdictions with the highest rates of traffic crashes, injuries and fatalities with grants awarded based on impaired driving and speeding data.
“Traffic concerns are one of our citizens most prevalent complaints. Keeping our citizens safe on our roadways is an
incredibly important job for FCSO. Grants such as this HEAT grant from GOHS help us do just that, keep our citizens safe by helping us take dangerous drivers off our roads,” said Sheriff Ron Freeman.
As law enforcement partners in the Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over DUI campaign and the Click It Or Ticket seatbelt campaigns, the Forsyth County Sheriff’s Office will also conduct mobilizations throughout the year in coordination with GOHS’s year-round waves of high visibility patrols, multi-jurisdictional roadchecks and sobriety checkpoints.
For more information about the H.E.A.T. program or any other GOHS campaign, visit www.gahighwaysafety.org or call 404-656-6996.
Fowler Park to host 9/11ceremony
Press Release September 1, 2021
PRESS RELEASE
FORSYTH COUNTY, Ga. – A ceremonial event will be held at 10 a.m. on Sept. 10, at Fowler Park (4110 Carolene Way) to recognize 20 years since the terrorist attacks on America that occurred on Sept. 11, 2001.
The ceremony, which will be held at the Fowler Park large picnic pavilion at the bottom of the open lawn hill, will feature:
– Remarks from Forsyth County Fire Chief Barry Head and Sheriff Ron Freeman
– Presentation of Colors by the Fire Department and Sheriff’s Office Honor Guards
– Chestatee River Chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution wreath laying ceremony
– Special recognition of first responders
“There is not a day that passes that first responders do not think, in some way, of what happened on that Tuesday morning two decades ago,” said Fire Chief Barry Head. “We do our best to honor our brothers and sisters that sacrificed all that day to save as many lives as possible in the face of almost certain peril.”
Face coverings/masks are encouraged along with social distancing. Parking will be available by the large picnic pavilion located by the playground
Cumming man shot in apparent drug deal
Featured Stories July 14, 2021
PRESS RELEASE
FORSYTH COUNTY Ga. — Forsyth County Sheriff’s Office deputies have arrested a man in reference to a shooting incident that occurred on July 13, 2021.
At approximately 10:15 p.m., deputies were flagged down at Highway 9 and McFarland Parkway by a 19-year-old male victim from Cumming who had been shot. The incident took place at Wendy’s, located at 4860 Atlanta Highway. The investigation revealed the victim met the suspect, 19-year-old Hunter Perry of Cumming, at Wendy’s to purchase marijuana. During the transaction, Perry produced a firearm and shot the victim then fled the scene in his vehicle.
Due to swift response, deputies were able to apprehend Perry quickly. He was charged with Aggravated Assault and Possession of a Firearm by a Convicted Felon. He is being held on no bond at the Forsyth County Jail. The investigation by the Forsyth County Sheriff’s Office Major Crimes Unit is still on-going.
“It is sad to see such a blatant disregard for human life. Forsyth County is no place for this and if you act so stupidly here the Forsyth County Jail will be your next stop. I’m proud of the rapid and professional response of our deputies who took the shooter into custody within an hour of the shooting,” said Sheriff Ron Freeman.
Forsyth deputy shot and killed an armed man who was threatening a woman Thursday
News June 25, 2021
FORSYTH COUNTY, Ga. – One man is dead following an officer-involved shooting Thursday evening.
Sheriff Ron Freeman issued a brief statement about the shooting during a press conference, which was posted to the agency’s Facebook page.
Deputies were responding to a 911 call when they arrived on the scene at approximately 8p.m. They observed a male armed with a handgun threatening a female. A deputy sheriff discharged his duty weapon, killing the man.
Freeman said the Georgia Bureau of Investigation and the District Attorney’s office have been notified and is conducting an investigation. The GBI will be releasing any additional information.
Sheriff’s Office firearms training center is about to become a reality
News March 24, 2021
Sheriff Ron Freeman
FORSYTH COUNTY, Ga. – Tuesday’s Board of Commissioners work session brought welcome news to Forsyth County Sheriff Ron Freeman who has struggled for two years to acquire funding for a badly-needed sheriff’s office firearm training facility.
Commissioners voted unanimously to spend $350,000 from the county’s reserve funds to help complete the project.
The firearm training facility comes with hefty price tag of about $926,000 but Freeman explained, “We were able to secure some significant cost savings. Not only were we able to get the land donated to the county but we were able to secure probably a couple of hundred thousand dollars in rough land grading done at no cost. That was done by Advanced Disposal. That was very much appreciated.”
Still, there was a shortfall of about $400,000. Freeman said he can use about $100,000 from the sheriff’s asset forfeiture fund to pay for the targeting systems.
The project is expected to save the county $100,000 annually in overtime and travel expense.
“We will recoup our money and it will allow us to be a better-trained agency.”
Suspected Forsyth County drug dealer arrested in major drug bust
Press Release March 11, 2021
PRESS RELEASE
FORSYTH COUNTY, Ga. — In late 2020, the Johns Creek and Forsyth County Drug Task Force conducted an operation targeting a Forsyth County-based methamphetamine dealer. The information gained from the operation was turned over to the Forsyth County Deputy assigned to the DEA Atlanta Task Force.
The Task Force Officer (TFO) was able to identify a methamphetamine source based in DeKalb County. The information obtained identified the individual as an excommunicated Russian Mafia member responsible for supplying multiple types of illicit drugs to retail-level drug dealers in Forsyth, DeKalb, Rockdale, and Gwinnett counties.
The TFO identified the individual’s distribution location, a 16,000 square foot warehouse, and obtained a federal search warrant. During the search of the warehouse, agents discovered that the warehouse contained a meat factory that butchered and distributed multiple types of meat products. In the office area, agents located a methamphetamine lab and a pill press.
Drugs were located inside the industrial refrigerator that was also stocked with meat and other foods that were to be distributed to legitimate businesses. Agents seized 11 pounds of methamphetamine, 400 grams of methamphetamine gummy bears, approximately 200 oxycodone pills, 100 MDMA pills, 300 grams of heroin, one vile of ketamine, 50 grams of marijuana, $60,000 in cash proceeds, seven fully loaded firearms to include two rifles, one money counter, and multiple cell phones. 45-year-old Eduard Bobrik of Alpharetta was arrested and charged with Trafficking Methamphetamine and has pending federal charges for Trafficking Methamphetamine and Possession of Firearms in Furtherance of a Drug Trafficking Crime. He was booked into the DeKalb County Jail.
“This is a great example of the importance of our relationships with our State and Federal partners,” said Sheriff Ron Freeman, “Drug dealers know no boundaries, and we, likewise, will relentlessly pursue those who endanger our citizens, regardless of where you run to.”
Forsyth County Chief Deputy Grady Sanford charged with distribution of child pornography
News November 11, 2020
FORSYTH COUNTY, Ga. — Forsyth County Chief Deputy Grady Sanford has been arrested on charges of child pornography after a search uncovered evidence that child sexual abuse images had been uploaded to the internet at his home in Cherokee County.
According to a Georgia Bureau of Investigation press release, the National Center of Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC) sent a report to the bureau that the images had been uploaded to the internet and the computer’s IP address was in Cherokee County.
The GBI alerted Forsyth County Sheriff it had been issued a search warrant of the home that involved one of his employees. When the search warrant revealed probable cause to make an arrest, Freeman immediately terminated Sanford.
“To say this is a shock is a gross understatement. We intentionally set our standards high at Forsyth County,” Freeman said. “Regardless of rank, every employee must meet those moral and legal standards. There is no room for this type of crime in our state, and certainly not in the law enforcement profession. Our trust and that of our community has been betrayed. I’ve made a commitment to be transparent, even when one of our own employees does wrong. No one is exempt and no one is above the law.”
Sanford was charged with two counts of distribution of child pornography and booked into the Cherokee County jail. He was released on a $5,600 bond.
The case is being investigated by the GBI.
Anyone with information about other cases of child exploitation is asked to contact the Georgia Bureau of Investigation Child Exploitation and Computer Crimes Unit at 404-270-8870.
Fetch Your News is a hyper local news outlet that covers Dawson, Lumpkin, White, Fannin, Gilmer, Pickens, Union, Towns and Murray counties as well as Cherokee County in N.C. FYN attracts 300,000+ page views per month, 3.5 million impressions per month and approximately 15,000 viewers per week on FYNTV.com and up to 60,000 Facebook page reach. If you would like to follow up-to-date local events in any of those counties, please visit us at FetchYourNews.com
Forsyth County Sheriff’s Office continues crackdown on computer crimes involving children
News, Press Release September 26, 2020
FORSYTH COUNTY, Ga. — The Forsyth County Sheriff’s Office this week announced that investigators have arrested 20 suspects this year for computer crimes involving children, eight of those in the last two months.
Sheriff Ron Freeman posted a video to the FCSO Facebook page praising the work of the High Tech Crimes Unit.
“Our High Tech Crimes Unit, and the men and women there, are working every day to make sure our kids stay safe,” Freeman said. “They’re really good at what they do, so for you predators who think Forsyth County is a safe place, you’ve got another thing coming.”
The specialized unit initiates investigations and conducts forensic analysis on computer evidence in cases involving child exploitation crimes. Members of the unit collaborate with the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children in cases involving possession of child sexual abuse images.
Information from the HTCU said of the 20 suspects arrested so far this year, eight were arrested in the last two months alone.
Investigators said all eight of those suspects were men and all were charged with multiple counts of sexual exploitation of children. The arrests included:
- Male, 70 years old, of Cumming – Charged with 16 counts of Sexual Exploitation of Children;
- Male, 58 years old, of Gainesville – Charged with 14 counts of Sexual Exploitation of Children;
- Male, 23 years old, of Cumming – Charged with 10 counts of Sexual Exploitation of Children;
- Male, 36 years old, of Cumming – Charged with 6 counts of Sexual Exploitation of Children;
- Possession and 1 count Sexual Exploitation of Children Distribution;
- Male, 52 years old, of Cumming – Charged with 12 counts of Sexual Exploitation of Children Possession;
- Male, 17 years old, of Cumming – Charged with 12 counts of Sexual Exploitation of Children Possession;
- Male, 17 years old, of Cumming – Charged with 14 counts of Sexual Exploitation of Children Possession;
- Male, 15-year-old, of Cumming – Juvenile complaint form filed including 10 counts of Sexual Exploitation of Children Possession.
HTCU investigators said they made 58 arrests for sex based offenses in 2019.
Forsyth Deputy fired for “serious misconduct”
News August 30, 2020
Sheriff Ron Freeman
FORSYTH COUNTY, Ga. – A Forsyth County deputy has been terminated for “serious acts of misconduct” while on the job.
Deputy Todd Franklin was fired in April, following a month-long investigation by the Office of Professional Standards. Franklin had been employed with the Sheriff’s Office for five years and was assigned to traffic patrol for the Board of Commissioners. School Administrators complained that not only did he not show up for work on time, but billed the school system for hours he never worked.
Investigators also found explicit images of an unidentified female on Franklin’s county-issued cell phone and adult videos among his body camera footage.
SHERIFF’S OFFICE STATEMENT
“The Deputy in question was terminated for serious acts of misconduct that are not in keeping with the rules and regulations of the Forsyth County Sheriff’s Office. A thorough investigation was conducted by the Office of Professional Standards, which found the employee to have engaged in serious misconduct.
In a day and time when so many Law Enforcement Officers and other first responders have excelled in their service to their community during a national crisis, that any employee would act contrary to the heroic work done by the nearly 500 members of the Forsyth County Sheriff’s Office should never take away from the dedication the men and women of the FCSO show their community every day. When someone acts as this former employee did, they lose their right to work alongside those Deputies and employees who serve with such distinction and heroism daily. The Sheriff has made it expressly clear that unethical, illegal, or immoral acts will lead to termination from this agency; every employee has heard this directly from the Sheriff. There is no room for this conduct here, and the men and women of FCSO, as well as our citizens, deserve better.”
Fetch Your News is a hyper local news outlet that covers Dawson, Lumpkin, White, Fannin, Gilmer, Pickens, Union, Towns and Murray counties as well as Cherokee County in N.C. FYN attracts 300,000+ page views per month, 3.5 million impressions per month and approximately 15,000 viewers per week on FYNTV.com and up to 60,000 Facebook page reach. If you would like to follow up-to-date local events in any of those counties, please visit us at FetchYourNews.com