Monday, August 22, 2016

Gordon County Sheriff Mitch Ralston, Sheriff’s Auxiliary, & Northwest Georgia Sheriffs, Sending Aid To Flood Stricken Areas in Louisiana

Sheriff Mitch Ralston Reports:

Northwest Georgia Sheriffs and the Gordon County Sheriff’s Office Auxiliary are in the process of assembling aid supplies for flood stricken East Baton Rouge Parish in Louisiana. Sheriff Mitch Ralston and the Auxiliary, along with Whitfield County Sheriff Scott Chitwood, Walker County Sheriff Steve Wilson, Murray County Sheriff Gary Langford, Catoosa County Sheriff Gary Sisk, Dade County Sheriff Ray Cross, and Chattooga County Sheriff Mark Schrader are organizing the relief effort.

This area has been ravaged by floods for days caused by unusually heavy rains. Thousands have been displaced in what the Red Cross called the “biggest natural disaster since Hurricane Sandy”. An official from the East Baton Rouge Sheriff’s Office told Sheriff Ralston’s staff that more than 50% of the parish (county) is underwater.

The supplies will be trucked to Louisiana with an escort of deputy sheriffs and turned over to East Baton Rouge Sheriff Sid Gautreauex’s staff for distribution. The supplies are primarily for the East Baton Rouge Sheriff’s Office staff, over 180 of which have been displaced from their homes, a large portion permanently so.

Sheriff Gautreauex’s Operation Center Commander advised Sheriff Ralston that the items most urgently needed are new clothing and shoes: all genders/sizes/ages; and toiletries, male and female items. We cannot accept used clothing.

The East Baton Rouge Sheriff’s Office has advised us that they have plenty of food and bottled water on hand.

Donations are welcome.

Donated items will be accepted at the GORDON COUNTY SHERIFF’S OFFICE at 2700 US Highway 41 (off I-75 Exit 320), beginning at 8 a.m. Tuesday, August 23rd during normal business hours (8 a.m. – 5 p.m.) and on Saturday, August 27th beginning at 8 a.m.

Sheriff Ralston encourages everyone to join in this relief effort. The supplies will be transported as soon as the trailer is filled.

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On May 20, 2016 at approximately 1:30 PM, Walker County Sheriff’s Office minimum security trusty Randy Barfield Jr walked off from his work detail in Rock Spring.
Randy Barfield Jr is a 26 year old white male who is approximately 6 feet tall and 180 pounds with brown hair and brown eyes. Barfield also goes by the name “Babo.” It is believed that he in the Rossville or Chickamauga area.
Barfield has been charged with Escape.

A $200 reward is being offered for information that leads to his apprehension. Please contact Det. Sgt. Pepper Stanfield at 706-638-1909 Ext 1238 or call 911 with any information.

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On January 4, 2016 the Georgia Sheriffs’ Association and the Association of County Commissioners of Georgia began a pro-active law enforcement awareness campaign, simply entitled, “Shake Your Sheriff’s Hand.”  This is a thank you promotion for Sheriffs, deputies, jailers, and other law enforcement that serves and protects the public daily.  

The campaign includes the production of a 30 second and 60 second television spot from six different market locations, video footage, two radio ads, and a series of print ads that are being produced for outdoor awareness (billboards) that will be launched all throughout the month of January.  Bill Crane, President of CSI Crane Inc., has been the force behind the campaign and was present at last week’s conference to discuss the video. 

Here’s a link to the 60 second video that was shown at the conference.  http://georgiasheriffs.org/shake-your-sheriffs-hand.  You may use this link to post on your website or Facebook pages.  Additionally, It gives the viewer an opportunity to make a donation to GSA.   Several of you may have already posted the link provided by Bill Crane.  However, we ask that you replace it with this link so that we can track the effectiveness of this campaign through our YouTube account.

Christie Luman
Division Director, Administration

GEORGIA SHERIFFS’ ASSOCIATION

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Georgia Bureau of Investigation

News Release 

For Immediate Release

January 30, 2016

Rossville, Georgia – On Saturday, January 30, 2016 at 2:00 AM, the Georgia Bureau of Investigation (GBI) was requested by the Walker County Sheriff’s Office to investigate an officer involved shooting incident that occurred on Sheila Gail Lane in Rossville during a SWAT standoff. 

Preliminary information indicates that at about 6:15 PM, last night on January 29, the Walker County Sheriff’s Office and Catoosa County Sheriff’s Office responded to a 911 call of a shooting at a Sheila Gail Lane residence, near the county line.  The 911 caller, a private propane contractor, had been dispatched to the residence for a service request.  The resident, identified as Jose Alegre, age 64, reportedly became irate threatening to shoot the caller if he did not leave the residence.  As the caller was leaving, Alegre began shooting at him. The caller was not hit by any of the gunfire and was able to escape. 

As Walker and Catoosa County deputies arrived, attempts were made to contact Alegre, who had barricaded himself inside his home. Alegre would not respond to deputies’ verbal commands and numerous attempts to initiate dialog. Walker County authorities obtained a search warrant for the residence and an arrest warrant for aggravated assault for Alegre.  The Walker County SWAT team, which is comprised of deputies from Walker County and LaFayette Police, arrived on scene. Into the morning hours of Saturday January 30, around 12:37 AM, after continued attempts to make contact with Alegre were unsuccessful, the SWAT team deployed gas into the residence at which point Alegre began shooting at officers. Deputies’ continued to initiate conversation with Alegre over a period of time and were unsuccessful. At about 1:48 AM, the SWAT team deployed into the home and were met by gunfire from Alegre.  The SWAT team returned fire, killing Alegre.   

An autopsy will be performed by the GBI Medical Examiner’s Office at GBI Headquarters in Decatur. The deputies and officers involved in the incident were not injured. 

The GBI will conduct an independent and thorough investigation to determine what occurred during the incident. When the investigation is complete, it will be turned over to the Walker County District Attorney’s Office for review.

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Operation Watchful Eye 

The first official duty of Walker County Sheriff Steve Wilson, President of the Georgia Sheriffs’ Association, was to propose a coordinated effort involving all sheriffs’ offices across the state to conduct residence verifications and compliance checks of registered sex offenders during a specific time frame. Operation Watchful Eye was born.

Two hundred and twenty-one registered sex offenders were arrested across the state during the week of October 26 – 31 for violations of state registration laws, thanks to our Georgia sheriffs.  

The Office of Sheriff is mandated by law to register sex offenders, and to keep the public informed of where registered sex offenders reside, work and attend school. Throughout the year each sheriff’s office verifies addresses provided by registered sex offenders.  

While conducting residence verifications, deputies also check for compliance with additional registration requirements which may result in arrests. Prior to this initiative, there has not been a coordinated effort encompassing the resources of all sheriffs’ offices in order to illustrate to the public and offenders that this critical mission is being accomplished. 

“We hope this statewide initiative created awareness that sheriffs’ offices work collectively, network, and actively engage their office by participating in statewide verification checks and other non-compliant matters, in order to make our state safer and showcase the excellent work of our sheriff’s offices,” stated Sheriff Wilson. 

Preliminary reporting by 86 sheriffs reveals a total of 11,982 registered sex offenders, 224  predators, and 145 homeless sex offenders  currently living in their counties.  Throughout the six-day operation, 8,045 residence verifications were conducted and 153 new warrants were issued for violations of the sex offender registry law. Thirty-nine counties reported that 68 sex offenders moved into their county during the week.  

Other agencies such as the Georgia Department of Community Supervision (DCS) and U.S. Marshals volunteered to assist counties in this initiative.  The DCS reported 3,994 compliance checks were conducted on registered sex offenders who are under probation or parole supervision. 

In numerous counties, deputies and probation/parole officers worked together to verify sex offenders are in compliance with the law. 

During the checks, DSC reported 28 firearms seized, 27 other weapons seized, 31 cases of illegal drugs found, 36 sexually explicit items confiscated, and over 800 sexually related images located. 

Remember, for the protection of your family and neighbors, visit your local sheriff’s office website or visit the http://gbi.georgia.gov/georgia-sex-offender-registry for more information on the whereabouts of registered sex offenders in your community.  

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From midnight to midnight November 12, 2015 is a special day that can impact Georgia Sheriffs’ Youth Homes significantly.  Known as Georgia Gives Day, this online donation event was founded three years ago.  

People across the state are encouraged to visit GAgivesday.org  and “Click if You Care” to help support the Georgia Sheriffs’ Youth Homes . 

Did you know that the average person clicks 457 times per day on their computer?  What if just ONE click made a difference in the life of one youngster?  

Join the sheriffs of Georgia in giving a loving safe home to abandoned and neglected children.  Hear from the very mouths of residents at the Georgia Sheriffs’ Youth Homes just how very important this organization really is! 

“I absolutely love it here and honestly, I don’t ever want to move. It almost makes me cry thinking of the kindness I’ve seen. I just want to THANK the Sheriffs and those who donate to keep Herrington Homestead going because I honestly don’t know how my life would be without this place.”  Eric, 16 year old from Herrington Homestead

 “I never believed I would graduate, or–better yet–go to college. I never believed in myself, but I have discovered a new person within. All of the support the home has given to me at Cherokee has made a great impact in my life.”  Veronica, a 19 year old nursing student and resident at Cherokee Estate 

“It was like the Ranch just handed you endless opportunity with education on a platter and said, ‘Be what you want to be. The sky is the limit’. Then gave you life, a home, a family, and all that goes with it…and literally encouraged you to go and make your dreams come true.”  Dr. Paul Jones, former resident of the Boys Ranch 

Serving hundreds of children in the residential care programs on the campuses of the Boys Ranch, Cherokee Estate, Mountain View, Herrington Homestead, and Pineland, this non-profit organization is responsible for lives. Real lives! 

Each campus provides homes, actual family-oriented, united homes that include academics, extracurricular activities, sports, church, projects and more. From utility bills to bars of soap, clothes to tuition fees, healthcare to Christmas dinners, there are a lot of responsibilities in operating facilities like these. 

We rely on donations and people who care to keep the doors open. Please hear your heart and take part! 

People across the state are encouraged to visit GAgivesday.org and “Click if You Care” to help support the Georgia Sheriffs’ Youth Homes and be a part in supporting your communities while bringing awareness to the cause. 

Georgia Gives Day is a unique, all-online fundraising initiative built for nonprofits and we hope that you will helps us spread the word and push this essential day: November 12, 2015 from Midnight to Midnight. It’s just one click of the button.

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The Georgia Bureau of Investigation announced Tuesday that its main phone line, 404-244-2600, has been compromised as a result of phone spoofing.

When a phone number is spoofed, the caller ID of the caller will look like the call is coming from a valid number.  In the case of the GBI, the GBI main number will appear.  Scam callers have said they are collecting a debt for the IRS and an arrest warrant would be issued if the person did not pay.

The GBI stresses that they do not contact people for debt collection.  If a person is called by someone claiming to be with the GBI, they are urged not to conduct any business or give out credit card information over the phone.

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