BRAVO... BRAVO !

Well before I could even finish this weeks blog episode, I pick up the paper and dropped a brick the size of Steve Berry's head. Mr William Terrell laying the punk card down on our Tribune & Georgian newspaper. I completely agree with everything Mr Terrell said in the piece. There is starting to be a growing feeling that many people of Camden County are tired of this lets beat the sheriff's department till they break. Which haters if you haven't noticed...it hasn't even cracked a little bit. If you are not knowledgable of what I am referring to, please let me fill you in.

Coverage of police operation was unfair

Dear Editor, Last month deputies and officers from the Camden County Sheriff's Office, the Dooly County Sheriff's Office, the Lowndes County Sheriff's Office, the Kingsland Police Department and the Georgia State Patrol conducted Operation Blue Lightning. This operation was a well-planned and well-executed operation that pooled the resources of five separate law enforcement agencies to combat the flow of drugs, weapons and other contraband through our community. Making more than 600 traffic stops and seizing $304,000 in cash and 80 pounds of marijuana in less than four days was no mean feat.

But what coverage did Operation Blue Lightning get from the Tribune & Georgian? One photograph in the Nov. 30 edition of some of the money seized was buried on page 13A with the headline, "It's all about the Benjamins." Then on Friday, Dec. 7 the Tribune & Georgian ran a story about our budget on the front page with the headline, "Sheriff raids piggy bank." Whose piggy bank?

These are but two examples of the overtly negative attitude of the Tribune and Georgian's editorial and publishing staff toward the Camden County Sheriff's Office. Their flippant headlines and holier-than-thou editorials demonstrate their clear bias. Why does the Tribune & Georgian treat the school board with kid gloves? When dealing with Sheriff (Bill) Smith, Mr. (Jonathan) Maziarz and his ilk quit being fair and balanced a long time ago.

First, none of the officers (from five law enforcement agencies) involved in Operation Blue Lightning do their jobs because, "It's all about the Benjamins." Only someone who has never walked in their shoes would dare be so dismissive of their efforts or their motivation. Cops engage in this always dangerous and sometimes deadly work to keep our society free from the poison the drug dealers seek to pour into our communities. And second, neither of the two women in the vehicle in which the money was found would claim it. Both said they had no idea where the money came from and seemed shocked that someone would hide that much money in their trunk.

The seizure of ill gotten gain of any variety from suspected drug dealers is one of the more effective weapons in the war against drugs and drug dealers because they are in the business solely to accumulate as many of "The Benjamins" as possible." It could also be argued that the newspaper business is likewise, "all about the Benjamins." After all, newspaper publishers have to push their product to stay in business. The more slanted the story the better it sells. When it bleeds it leads!
And by the way, one of the stops initiated during Operation Blue Lightning initiated an investigation that culminated with the arrest of three men suspected of being responsible for a number of burglaries throughout south Georgia and north Florida.

Lt. William Terrell

Public Information Officer
Camden County Sheriff's Office
- From the Tribune & Georgian

Take this article and the recent letters into the paper and including the recent cartoon in the paper stating that Camden is in fact tired of this attack. Nothing our Sheriff can do will be praised by these people for the simple fact that they are not looking our for OUR best intrest. More like their best interest. I would go into this now but then I would not have anything to type on the weeks blog that I have already started on. So in closing on this tip of the hat to Mr Terrell I leave with a video that I think kind of sums up my thoughts on the whole subject matter. Its a little off of the subject but you will get the point.