(July 27, 2011 - Atlanta, Georgia)  After 60 hour of grueling instruction, 24 graduates from various law enforcement agencies have completed the course work required to become certified in Gang Resistance Education And Training, G.R.E.A.T.  The G.R.E.A.T. Program centers around specially trained law enforcement professionals teaching students how to make better choices that will affect their lives for many years to come.  The curriculum is taught in primary and secondary schools all across the United States of America with prevention as its main goal to immunize against delinquency, gang membership, and youth violence. 

The candidates have come from agencies across Metro Atlanta to receive this specialized training from instructors certified by the U.S. Department of Justice. This is the second time the Fulton County Sheriff’s Office has collaborated with the D.O.J. to facilitate this training for its staff members and reached out to agencies within the County and beyond including the Atlanta Police Department (9 graduates), Clayton County Sheriff's Office, Fulton County Police Department, Rockdale County Sheriff's Office, along with Deputies Joseph Johnson, Pamela Murry, Keri Strauss, and Yashi Yomans of the Fulton County Sheriff's Office.  

The Fulton County Sheriff’s Office has an extensive history of teaching this curriculum to students.  Sheriff Ted Jackson was the keynote speaker during the graduation ceremony today and emphasized to graduates that their newly acquired skills  will help them target students at a critical stage in their development to dissuade them from criminal pursuits. 

During the ceremony, there was an empty seat on the front row of graduates to honor Deputy Richard "Rick" Daly of the Clayton County Sheriff's Office who was killed by a 17-year-old last week.  As the goal of the G.R.E.A.T. Program is to help students lead productive lives, speakers expressed to graduates today including Deputy Daly's colleagues that they will have the opportunity to hopefully prevent another incident of street violence by reaching one student at a time.  

Sheriff Ted Jackson extends his gratitude to everyone who participated in making this training session a success.

The Rescue of Miss Sue

On Monday, December 5, 2011, a daughter called the Fulton County Sheriff’s Office from California to ask for help concerning her 87-year-old mother, Mrs. Sue W. of South Fulton County. The daughter told Deputy E. Jones that she had not been able to reach her mother in two days and the daughter was extremely worried, becoming emotional on the telephone. Deputy Jones comforted the daughter and assured her that he would send someone to the mother’s house to check on her.

Deputy J. Underwood of the Law Enforcement Division is assigned to the area which includes the home of Miss Sue. Deputy Underwood was ordered to perform a signal 89, welfare check for Mrs. White to see whether she was okay. When Deputy Underwood knocked on the front door, she did not receive a response. It occurred to the deputy to walk around back to investigate further. Deputy Underwood found a sliding door, knocked, and called out, “Miss Sue, Miss Sue?” That’s when the deputy heard a voice from inside the home say, “Yes.” Miss Sue began to explain that she had been injured and on the floor for two days. She had been unable to call anyone for help. Deputy Underwood used her radio to call for Emergency Medical Services personnel on Miss Sue’s behalf.

 As Miss Sue began to cry, Deputy Underwood remained calm and advised dispatchers that if Miss Sue could not open the door, then Fire Rescue personnel would have to gain entry into the home. Deputy Underwood told Miss Sue that she needed her help to get the door opened. The deputy turned into a coach and instructed Miss Sue to gently slide across the floor to open the sliding door. Miss Sue was nervous, scared, and tired from the ordeal. Putting her own emotions and worries aside, Deputy Underwood kept a cool head and insisted to Miss Sue that she could do this. So Miss Sue tried to move and the deputy encouraged her. Deputy Underwood began to lower herself to show the 87-year-old how to move a little bit at a time to inch her way to the lock. While in pain, Miss Sue was able to focus on Deputy Underwood’s voice and accomplish the goal of opening the door. When the two were no longer separated by the door, Deputy Underwood gave a tearful Miss Sue a hug. The deputy found a blanket to cover the lady.

At one point, Deputy Underwood needed to step away to use the telephone and Miss Sue begged her not to go but the deputy assured her that she would be right back. Deputy Underwood called the daughter in California to let her know that her mother was okay and that an ambulance was on the way. The deputy also needed to know to which hospital she would prefer her mother be taken. While they waited for EMS, Deputy Underwood offer to help the lady prepare for transport to the hospital. Miss Sue asked the deputy to please get her robe. As Emergency Medical Technicians began checking Miss Sue’s vital signs and readying her for the trip to the hospital, the patient looked around and said, “Where is the deputy?” Deputy Underwood assured her that she was still by her side. A neighbor rode with Miss Sue to a local hospital.

One of Miss Sue’s legs was swollen and very sore. It seems that she had been decorating when the accident occurred. Her daughter later told a reporter that her mother suffered a double fracture in her hip. Fulton County Sheriff Ted Jackson commends Deputy Jacqueline Underwood for utilizing intelligence under pressure, displaying finesse, and showing compassion for Miss Sue. Deputies like Jacqueline Underwood are shining stars in the agency and the law enforcement profession.

New Rank For Detention Officers

For the first time in the history of the Fulton County Sheriff’s Office, there is an enhanced career path for detention officers. The first detention officers to earn the rank of Lieutenant and Sergeant were recognized during a promotional/pinning ceremony on Wednesday, April 25, 2012 at the Jail.  Family and friends of the officers were invited to participate in the exchanging of badges and insignias representing the new rank bestowed upon the honorees.  The Detention Lieutenant and three of the new Detention Sergeants are assigned to the Jail and the fourth Detention Sergeant is assigned to the Courthouse.  

This new distinction helps to support the development of staff members and gives them more authority over their lot in life. It is the fulfillment of a promise to staff by Sheriff Ted Jackson that the detention officers would be able to earn rank which parallels that which is available to deputies.