Newspaper Page Text
Page 2— Wednesday, August 9, 2023, The True Citizen
Sheriff claims County is demonizing BCSO, threatens litigation
SHELLIE SMITLEY
thetruecitizen.shellie@gmail.com
In a 5-page letter addressed
to the Board of Commission
ers Sunday, August 6, and
dispersed to media outlets,
Sheriff Alfonzo Williams said
his office is being “demonized
and punished” for the political
prowess and aggrandizement
of some elected officials.
In the letter, Williams al
leged that “angst” is beginning
to permeate through the rank
and hie of deputies and spill
ing over into citizens.
Despite his nearly $1 mil
lion budget deficit, the Sheriff
expressed concern that the
finance office closed multiple
open purchase orders, claim
ing it was out of retaliation for
“budgetary overspending.” He
also provided the BOC with
three reasons that he says cre
ated the budget deficit.
In the letter, Williams said
he is exploring the legal pos
sibility of having the Superior
Court mandate that the County
reimburse his department for
inmate medical costs paid out
of his budget. He also stated he
is exploring the possibility of a
law suit to fund an additional
$200,000 for basic salaries.
Additionally, Williams said he
is looking into filing a lawsuit
over the detention center he
claims requires demolition.
Although County Manager
Merv Waldrop reported that
an urgent meeting July 31 with
Commissioners Art Lively and
Evans Martin was civil, Wil
liams pointed out in the letter
that no one took any action.
However, the meeting did not
meet the legal requirement for
the BOC to act.
Despite an approximate $11
million budget for FY 2023,
Williams said his department is
out of copy paper. “We do not
have sufficient office supplies,”
he stated. “We need reams of
copy paper in each of our four
buildings. Operationally, we
cannot fulfill our duties without
proper resources.”
New school year calls for heightened security
SHELLIE SMITLEY
thetruecitizen.shellie@gmail.com
Burke County High School
students will see heightened
security measures after mul
tiple fights broke out during
the first week of school.
Superintendent Angela Wil
liams confirmed there were
three fights at the high school
August 1 and 2. A spokesper
son from the Burke County
Sheriff’s Office said school
resource officers were on the
scene during each altercation.
No additional sheriff’s office
personnel responded.
An incident report states that
on August 1, a scuffle occurred
in front of the auditorium
involving 10 students. Three
deputies responded along with
Assistant Principals Garry
Fulcher and Henry Hanker-
son and Principal Walter Sea-
brooks. Citations were issued
to the involved students.
In response, Williams sent
out a letter addressed to par
ents and guardians. In the
letter she stated the school has
increased monitoring efforts
and requested an increased
presence of law enforcement.
All students involved in the
Sheriff accepts handout
after going overbudget
SHELLIE SMITLEY
thetruecitizen.shellie@gmail.com
In a recorded message
posted on Facebook, Sheriff
Alfonzo Williams reported
that concerned citizens of
Burke County have offered
to fund the July 2 promotions
the Board of Commissioners
asked him to postpone until
the next fiscal year. The BOC
instructed county employees
not to pay the salary increases
after Williams ignored the
board’s request.
The promotions will cost
taxpayers $89,000, Williams
said in the video. The con
cerned citizens are offering to
pay $22,000, covering the sal
ary increases until September
30, the end of the fiscal year.
Williams said he was “grate
ful” for the benevolence.
“This is huge for morale,” he
said. “This is going to lift the
spirits of our deputies.”
The BOC heard the Sheriff’s
request to accept the money
during Tuesday’s meeting. Wil
liams told the BOC the donors
wish to remain anonymous.
Although Chairwoman Terri
Fodge Kelly said the panel is
inclined to accept the funds,
County Attorney Barry Flem
ing advised against accepting
the funds unless the names of
the donors and the amounts
they contributed are disclosed.
The issue will likely be
discussed further during the
panel’s Finance Committee
meeting Wednesday, August 9.
skirmishes were removed from
the campus. Additionally, the
school will engage students
in discussions pertaining to
conflict resolution.
“As parents, your involve
ment and support are essential
in reinforcing these values at
home,” Williams stated in the
letter. “ Please take the time
to talk to your children about
peaceful conflict resolution,
the significance of empathy
and understanding and the im
portance of reporting potential
threats.”
No other incident reports
were available.
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