About Dawson County news. (Dawsonville, Georgia) 2015-current | View Entire Issue (March 4, 2020)
Wednesday, March 4,2020 dawsonnews.com I DAWSON COUNTY NEWS I 5A I conducted an unsuccessful traffic stop. Here’s what not to do. Jessica Taylor Reporter What should have been a simple traffic stop for a busted headlight resulted in my death. At least I thought it would be simple when I was handed a flashlight and told to check a stopped car at the Dawson County Courthouse. The air was cold and the night was dark. The only light I could see was from my flashlight and the flashing blue lights behind me. There were two people in the car in front of me. The music on the radio was too loud for me to think straight. I kept telling myself over and over “this is just a simulation. Whatever happens, it isn’t real.” Although I knew what I was about to do was just part of a hands-on learn ing experience from the Dawson County Sheriff’s Office, when I stepped up to the passenger’s side door, that thought left my mind. In that moment, I was a patrol officer. Deputies Pierce and Smith sat in that gold sedan acting as if they were under the influence. I could see the silver grip of a gun peeking out of the center console. I had to think as if I was a real patrol officer. How would I react to two inebriated men and a potentially loaded gun at a traffic stop? My main objective was to make it home to my family in one piece, but in order to do that I had to figure out how to safely handle my current situa tion. I asked the driver to keep his hands on the steering wheel while I had his passenger exit the vehicle and put his hands on the hood of the car. There was no one there to help me as I stood there in the dark, alone, with an intoxicated man much larger than me while his buddy had ample opportunity to grab that handgun while I was preoccupied. Dawson County Sheriff's Office deputies pre tend to be intox icated vehicle occupants dur ing a traffic stop simulation on Feb. 25 during the Citizens Law Enforcement Academy. Jessica Taylor Dawson County News As soon as I pulled the passenger out of the vehi cle, I felt like I had made a huge mistake. I’d just given this intox icated man the opportuni ty to assault me or flee. I told him not to move, but would he actually listen to me? Would he stay put or would he put up a fight? I had to trust that he would stay where he was while I checked on his buddy. I lowered my gaze to look into the car. Immediately my heart started pounding as I real ized the gun I had just seen moments ago was now gone. The driver had a weapon on him. He could have shot me at any moment. My mind raced and I struggled to make a quick decision. Indecisiveness is one of my fatal flaws, so I was forced to follow my gut and make a deci sion to hopefully get this situation resolved without any injuries. “Sir, that gun is missing from the center console. I need you to put your hands up and exit the vehicle,” I said in a some what authoritative, but extremely shaky voice. Real fear was sinking in. If I had time to pro cess my thoughts I could have told myself that this was just a fun little test, but there was no time. I had two men outside of their vehicle, and one was definitely armed. Any number of things could happen. “I don’t want to do this,” I said as I began a pat down search of the driver. I didn’t know what I was searching for, or how to do a proper search. The only thing I knew is that there was a gun somewhere. “Hey, where’d my buddy go,” Pierce asked. I stopped my search and looked around. Sure enough, the passenger, Deputy Smith, was now gone. I heard a voice over the intercom at my patrol vehicle. He had found a way to get to my car without me even noticing. When I turned back to look at the driver, he had the gun aimed at my chest. Bang. I was dead. I imagine my traffic stop was less than five minutes, but it felt like so much more. It happened so quickly yet so slowly. The rest of my Citizens Law Enforcement class went through the same simulation, each one fail ing as I had. Laughs were shared as we watched each other fumble along trying our best to get through the drill unscathed. While we had our fun and joked around, we were given a wakeup call. This is what it’s like being on patrol. When you step out of your vehicle, you don’t know how each situation will play out - and there are a million ways it could go. It could be as simple as a busted headlight and telling the driver to get it fixed and have a nice day. It could be a person driv ing with a suspended license. It could be a sto len vehicle. It could be a car full of weapons. It could be a driver under the influence. It could be a domestic violence situa tion with a passenger screaming out for help. As an officer, you have to be prepared for all of the possibilities while not infringing upon constitu tional rights and somehow securing your own safety. It’s a lesson we all took to heart that night as we realized every single one of us would have been killed if this situation was reality. I walked away with an appreciation for the weight that is placed on these deputies’ shoulders because it’s something I wouldn’t ever be prepared for. I couldn’t walk into every situation preparing for the worst possible ending because that amount of stress would suffocate me. While I hope I’m never pulled over by an officer again in my life, I’ll remember this experience for when that day may come. Maybe for one traffic stop I can put that deputy at ease so they know after talking to me they will be going home to their family. Dawson County News reporter Jessica Taylor will continue with a series of pieces on the Citizens Law Enforcement Academy next week. 2020 Water System Improvements Etowah Water & Sewer Authority Dawsonville, Georgia Etowah Water & Sewer Authority is requesting individual sealed Bids for furnishing all materials, labor, tools, equipment and appurtenances necessary for the 2020 Water System Improvements project. The Project will consist of approximately 3,700 LF of 12-inch DIP water main, 3,600 LF of 8-inch DIP water main, and 250 FF of 6-inch DIP water main water main, including all necessary and required accessories, service change- overs, traffic control and erosion and sedimentation control which will be performed at three different sites or locations within the county. The work will be awarded in one contract. Pre-qualification of Bidders is required for the 2020 Water System Improvements project. Beginning Wednesday, March 4,2020, a copy of the application and qualification requirements can be obtained from the Etowah Water & Sewer Authority Engineering and Construction Department located at 1162 Highway 53 East, Dawsonville, Georgia 30534 or via email to Tim Collins at timc@ etowahwater.org. Completed pre-qualification applications for Bids will be received at the Etowah Water & Sewer Authority Engineering and Construction Department, 1162 Highway 53 East, Dawsonville, Georgia 30534 until 4:00 p.m., local time, Friday, April 3,2020. Photo courtesy Lanier Tech From left, Susanna Carey, U.S. Representative Doug Collins and Brandon Carey. Lanier Tech Instructor named EMS Educator of the Year From staff reports A Paramedicine Technology Instructor at Lanier Technical College has been named the 2020 Georgia EMS Educator of the Year by the Georgia Emergency Services Association. Brandon Carey, instructor of Lanier Tech’s Paramedicine Program received the award from U.S. Rep. Doug Collins at a reception in downtown Atlanta in mid-February. According to a release from Lanier Tech, the Georgia EMS Educator of the Year Award is presented to an EMS Educator who has contributed signifi cantly to EMS education at the com munity, regional, and/or state level. “We are so very proud of Brandon. He is a shining example of the great instructors we have at Lanier Technical College,” Ray Perren, president of Lanier Technical College said in the release. “I have said for years that Lanier Tech is home to the very best EMT/Paramedic Training Program in the State of Georgia. Brandon’s award is even further evidence of the quality of our Paramedicine Program. Our instructors make the difference.” Historic Preservation Commission approves second annual photo contest By Jessica Taylor jtaylor@dawsonnews.com Dawsonville’s Historic Preservation Commission (HPC) has unanimously approved its second annual photography contest for local students. “For a period, we had high school stu dents go out into the community and take photographs of historic buildings in downtown... they were compiled by the high school art teacher. We sent those then to a selection committee who chose a winner,” HPC Chairwoman Angie Smith said. In the inaugural competition, co-win ners were awarded and had their photo graphs displayed in Dawsonville City Hall during May, the national historic preservation month. At the April 29, 2019 HPC meeting, Ian Costley was announced as the winner of the “This is Our Town” photography contest, with Caroline Cranford receiving honorable mention. “We presented them with a monetary prize and a certificate from the city so we would like to make this year the second annual,” Smith said. At the most recent HPC meeting, mem bers agreed to follow the rules and proce dures put in place for the 2019 photogra phy contest which is open to students at Dawson County High School and Dawson County Junior High School. Students can enter a maximum of three photographs in the competition. Entries must include title of photograph, first and last name of photographer and the date and location of the photograph. The committee is looking at setting the submission deadline in early April, before students leave school for spring break, so that the contest winner can be announced at the HPC’s April 27 meeting. An exact deadline date was not set during the Feb. 24 meeting. Smith asked for a volunteer on the committee who would be willing to coor dinate with the high school art teachers to facilitate obtaining photos for the third- party selection committee. Commission member Carrie Fallstrom accepted to be the photography contest liaison and will be providing additional information on the contest to the schools’ art teachers. The Bowen Goes Platinum 20th Anniversary Gala come celebrate with uo :oo p.m featuring Music • Caricatur iest • P Silent & Live gems & jeans Tickets , 1 at Cold Creek H 9 1 Shoal qqOR PRIZES Dawsonville, drinks. Tickets online at bowenarts.org or call 70 Sponsorships also available online ART & GIFT GALLERY Tuesday-Friday 10-4 Saturday 12-4 a non-profit organization 334 Highway 9 North Dawsonville, GA 30534 just North of Historic Square 706.216.ARTS(2787) www. bowe n arts. o rg ~ BECOME A MEMBER ~ Support the Arts in North Georgia
