KEVIN SPROUL: Dougherty sheriff takes a look back on 2018

Happy New Year! 2018 was a difficult year on many levels, especially as catastrophic storms seem to be becoming the norm. In the midst of that, I am incredibly proud of the employees of the Sheriff’s Office. They continue to show a level of determination, dedication, and selflessness that makes me both proud and humble.

Deputies and detention officers alike put in many tireless hours, often at the expense of their own homes and families, to ensure that our community is safe and secure.

Other than storm response, 2018 was a busy year for the Sheriff’s Office. During the year, my staff executed nearly 10,000 criminal warrants and almost 20,000 civil papers. In addition, we investigated more than 380 criminal cases, and the number of registered sex offenders managed monthly increased to 374. Our AFIS unit worked more than 1,000 cases, examined more than 4,000 pieces of evidence and made nearly 600 identifications of criminals. The criminal records section conducted more than 5,000 background checks.

We assisted more than 400 motorists and escorted about 90 more to the Liberty House and similar facilities. We conducted more than 3,800 drug tests of offenders.

The jail processed slightly more than 15,000 inmates for admission or release and more than 95,000 visitors came to see them. The staff managed an average daily inmate population of more than 650. At the Judicial Building, more than 79,000 visitors were processed to assure the security of the courts, where between the Judicial Building and the jail, nearly 30,000 court cases were heard.

To help prevent youths from coming to jail, we conducted character education classes in the majority of Dougherty County’s elementary and middle schools and conducted more than 130 interventions with troubled youths. We also conducted a youth summer camp and a variety of other community events. These were all carried out using donated funds.

Since being elected sheriff, I have done my best to maximize the efficiency of the Dougherty County Sheriff’s Office while improving the level of service we provide. My office has faithfully served the youths of this county and has been a good steward of the taxpayers’ money. We have faithfully attended to the needs of the inmates in our custody, helping four more attain their GED diploma and working to get more than 10 percent of our pretrial inmates released into our Pretrial Release Program. The Sheriff’s Office has been a good team player with the county, other law enforcement agencies and community organizations.

I have been very honored and humbled to serve as sheriff of Dougherty County and want to thank you for giving me this opportunity. If you have any questions or concerns, you may contact the Dougherty County Sheriff’s Office at (229) 431-3259 or visit our Facebook page or our website at www.doughertysheriff.com. May God bless you with a very safe and healthy 2019!

Sheriff Kevin Sproul is a longtime resident of Dougherty County. He is a graduate of Albany High School, Darton College and LaGrange College of Albany. Sproul has been employed with the Dougherty County Sheriff’s Office since 1982.