Douglas Sheriff's Office Recognized for Fighting DUI

The Douglas County Sheriff’s Office was given the 2010 Hero Award from Mothers Against Drunk Driving for its efforts last year in fighting the crime.

Last year, the office made 581 DUI arrests, Chief Stan Copeland said at Tuesday’s Board of Commissioners meeting. That’s an average of 1.6 arrests daily.

“As you know,” Copeland said, “DUI is a serious issue throughout our state and throughout this nation, and the efforts of the sheriff’s office staff in curbing impaired driving has been a priority not only for Sheriff (Phil) Miller, but also for our district attorney and for our solicitor general.”

Copeland said members of the sheriff’s office “strive very hard to keep our streets safe.”

“We just want to send a message: If you drink and drive in Douglas County, you’re going to get caught and you’re going to get prosecuted,” he said.

Also at Tuesday’s meeting:

• A $2,500 grant from Cobb & Douglas Public Health was accepted for the Employee Health and Safety Fair.
• Traffic Markings Inc. was awarded a $63,132 contract to put raised pavement markers in the middle of roads to alert people when they are crossing the center line. The money comes from the federal government.
• Advertisements were authorized for a public hearing on renaming Highpoint Road.
• The fiscal year 2011 budget was amended to recognize grant money that was reimbursed to the county in late 2010. Commissioner Kelly Robinson said that money stems from the September 2009 floods. “We’re still getting those (grants) trickling in two years later,” he said.
• The general fund was amended by $415,714, the E-911 fund by $971,157, and the landfill fund by $16,647. Robinson said there was no positive or negative impact by doing this. “That’s just housecleaning,” he said.
• The purchase of a 2011 Dodge Charger for $22,846 for the sheriff’s office was approved. The money comes from confiscations the office has made.
• Tree planting projects, including the new E-911 Center, Douglas County Library, Law Enforcement Center, were approved. The money comes from the county’s Tree Replacement Fund. “We have money from developers when didn’t do what they were supposed to do … They tore down too many trees or whatever the case may be, so they got fined and they have to pay into that,” Robinson said.
• Federal and state emergency funds were approved to purchase two properties on Cardinal Drive, two on Robin Road and one on Wren Circle in the Austell area of the county. Those properties were affected by the September 2009 floods.
• Surplus items—mostly cell phones—were approved to be recycled. “You couldn’t even give (them) away in essence,” Robinson said.
• Kellogg Excavating Co. and MT Contractors were awarded tax refunds of $1,370 each.
• Money from the Georgia Department of Transportation was approved to be used to resurface roughly 12 miles worth—three in each of the county’s four districts—of roads. Robinson said the roads don’t necessarily need repairs because of age, adding that it could be because of heavy travel, like on Thornton Road, or water damage.
• This month was declared National Donate Life Month in the county to recognize the importance of organ, eye and tissue donation.
• The week of April 10-16 was declared Crime Victims’ Rights Week in the county.
• This month was declared Child Abuse Awareness and Prevention Month in the county.
• The board mentioned the various Easter events coming up.
• Commission Chairman Tom Worthan’s next Chat with the Chairman meeting is scheduled for April 18 at 6 p.m. at the fire station on Georgia Highway 166 in the Fairplay community.