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THE FORSYTH COUNTY NEWS - AUGUST 3, 1572 -
To the citizens
i
of Forsyth County
As ail of you know, Forsyth County’s Democratic Primary Election will be on
Tuesday August Bth. This means that we will go to the polls and vote for the man
or woman of our choice ... 1 am very thankful that we have that freedom of going
to the polls and voting for whom we please.
In an election such as the one coming up on August Bth usually there are two or
more candidates seeking the same office. Each candidate will make up a platform
in which he tells the people what he will do or - hopes to do. Some candidates
may promise you things which actually can be done, while others may promise you
things which are impossible to do.
Three snd one half years ago when I was seeking the office of Sheriff of Forsyth
County, I promised you that 1 would try my best to give you honest and depen
dable law enforcement . . This I have done. Yes, in three and one half years,
your Sheriffs department has come a long way. When I took office on January 1,
1969 you had a three man department with three cars. Now you have a seven
man department with six patrol cars and a night radio dispatcher. You now
have 24 hour patroling in Forsyth County. We also have a Forsyth County
Emergency Squad with above 30 members that also serve as Special Deputiet
under the Forsyth County Sheriffs Department. These men and women are
always ready to help us with any emergency that might arise, and at no
cost to the citizens of Forsyth County.
You might say, (Yes, we do have more men and more cars in the Sheriffs
department, but look how much more it is costing). This is not necessarily so
even though the Sheriffs department is not supposed to be a profit making depart
ment, in the last three years, the criminal division has paid the County Comm
issioner more than 5200,000.00 plus over 5100,000.00 in back taxes that was
collected through the Sheriffs Department. Yes we do have more men and more
protection, but that does not mean they are costing us more money, and 1 will
give you an example:
1968 total collected thru the Criminal Court 547.151.50
1970 total collected thru the Criminal Court 588,974.71
Total criminal and traffic cases disposed of 1965 thru 1968
(4 years) - 3,753
Total criminal and traffic cases disposed of 1968 thru 1971
(3 years) - 4,327 574 more in 36 mo. than in 48 mo.
1968 paid commissioner on Criminal & Civil - $52,901.00
1970 paid commissioner on Criminal & Civil - 595.447.84
As you can see the money taken in by the Sheriffs Department has almost doubled.
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B. Donald Plrkla, Sheriff
Your Vote and Support appreciated.
You might then say, as my opponent has said so many times, “But just look how
much more crime has increased since I took office in January 1969, and especially
the drug situation.
Yes, I’m sorry to say that crime has increased since I took office three and one half
years ago and certainly, the drug situation has become worse . . . but, not just in
Forsyth County.
Over these United States, Crime is rising eleven times faster than the population.
From the year 1960 to 1969 Crime increased 146 per cent while the population
increased 13 percent. Yes crime has increased in Forsyth County too.
According to National Statistics, the nation suffered over five hundred thousand
more crimes in 1969 than in 1968 . . . and crime increased in Forsyth County
too . . . Over the United States in just 10 short years 1960 to 1970, Larceny is up
245 per cent, Burglary is up 142 per cent, Robbery is up 224 per cent, and murder
is up 76 per cent. Yes Crime increased in Forsyth County too.
There has been much said about the dangerous drug situation in Forsyth County..
It is true that we do have a serious problem in Forsyth County with drags and I am
concerned, and have been concerned all along. We have been concerned enough to
rent films and show them to classes in several schools. We have been concerned
enough to make speeches at PTA meetings and on one occasion to*a Sunday
School class.
With the help of several GBI agents and narcotic agents out of Atlanta, we hare
made 44 arrests for violation of the Georgia abuse Control Act in the past three
and one half yeais .. The drag situation, like other crimes, have become worse in
the last few years, but not just in Forsyth County.
The Georgia Bureau of Investigation records show that they only worked 30 cases
for violation of the G.DA.CA. in 1964. In 1966 they worked 329 cases, in 1968
they worked 78 cases which is an increase of 48 over the year 1964 In 1060 thAr
worked 315 cases and in 1970 they worked 471 cases. ****
This is to show the increase over the entire state of Georgia which Forsyth County
IS a part of . . I could go on and on, however I only wanted to show that whfle
crime may have increased a little bit in Forsyth County, it increased much over
the entire nation.
I know that I cannot stop crime, but I am willing to try and surely surely with
your help and God’s help, we can slow it down.
- 'WE.'
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B. Donald Pirkle, Sheriff