Newspaper Page Text
The True Citizen, Wednesday, December 29, 2021 — Page 7
^FOR THE RECORD
WPD moves forward
SHELLIE SMITLEY
thetruecitizen.shellie@gmail.com
The Waynesboro Police De
partment is accredited once
again.
Chief Willie Burley said the
recent certification shows that
the department is complying
with state-mandated policies
and procedures, including road
patrol reporting and proper
tagging in the property room.
“We had assessors come De
cember 9- 10,” Burley stated.
“We were 100% up to par on
everything.”
The WPD lost its accredita
tion in 2019, the same year
Burley assumed office.
“Everything was out of com
pliance and out of order,” he
said. However, earning the
recertification was delayed by
the pandemic.
“Each time we tried to make
appointments for assessors to
come in, the COVID was so
bad in 2020, that it pushed us
back,” he said.
The accreditation, good for
a 3-year term, enables the
WPD to apply for federal
grants. They will have to stay
in compliance in order for the
accreditation to be renewed.
Burley announced the recer
tification to a round of applause
during the December City
Council meeting.
The panel also voted that
evening for the city manager
to oversee the WPD versus the
department reporting directly
to the mayor and city council.
Burley said it is a better policy
since now he will directly
report to one person instead
of six, especially in regard to
the budget.
The city council will still
have to approve decisions that
are brought before them by the
city manager.
BURKE COUNTY JAIL BOOKINGS
DEC. 20-26
Paul Lee
Adams, 51
Pecan Chase St.,
Waynesboro
WPD, Dec. 26
Criminal trespass
Demario Rashad
Cederrick
Demarcus
Holliman, 32
Carrie St., Augusta
BCSO, Dec. 26
Bench warrant -
misdemeanor
White, 28
West 8th St.,
Waynesboro
WPD Dec. 26
Tail lights required;
aggravated assault
Joshua Austin
Williams, 35
Griener Circle,
Hephzibah
BCSO, Dec. 23
Probation violation -
felony; bench warrant
- felony
Tracey Devette
Dixon, 31
Screven St., Sardis
BCSO, Dec. 23
Disorderly conduct
Saj
Ecleo, 25
River Road,
Waynesboro
WPD, Dec. 23
Theft by taking -
misdemeanor
BURKE EMA REPORT
The Burke County Emergency Management Agency
responded to 116 patients’ calls during the week ending
Dec. 26. Of those, 75 resulted in transports, including 37
to Augusta hospitals and one to another out-of-county
hospital. Thirty five of the transports were determined to
be emergencies and 40 were non-emergent.
The agency also answered 12 fire calls during the week.
They included one gas leak, one vehicle fire, three rescues,
four public service calls and three unspecified calls.
Giving up control
SHELLIE SMITLEY
thetruecitizen.shellie@gmail.com
The Burke County Board
of Commissioners adopted a
resolution December 22 that
recognizes the right of the sher
iff to control the number of his
deputies and other employees
and their amount of pay.
During a special called exec
utive session, the panel decided
that employees of the Sheriff
of Burke County and their
amount of pay shall no longer
be subject to the control of the
BOC or its policies and pro
cedures, including the Burke
County Board of Commission
ers Personnel Policy Manual,
as adopted on April 10, 2018,
and as amended thereafter.
The resolution states that
for many years the BOC has
controlled the number of depu
ties and other employees of the
BCSO and their pay with the
consent and cooperation of
the sheriff who occupied that
office. It also points out that
Sheriff Alfonzo Williams has
now withdrawn his consent to
the BOC controlling the num
ber of his deputies and other
employees and their amount
of pay and no longer wishes to
cooperate with the panel.
“In the absence of the con
sent and cooperation of the
Sheriff of Burke County, the
laws of the State of Georgia
require the Board of Com
missioners of Burke County
to allow the Sheriff of Burke
County to control the number
of his deputies and other em
ployees and their amount of
pay,” the resolution reads.
In another executive session
the same day, the Board elected
to join in on a class action
settlement for the nationwide
opioid suit.
Christopher Allen
Harrison, 44
Hiticrest Dr., North
Augusta, S.C.
BCSO Dec. 26
DUI-less safe-
alcohol; driving while
license suspended
or revoked - misde
meanor
Sharmayne Katrice
Jordan, 21
Thompson Bridge
Road, Waynesboro
WPD, Dec. 22
Shoplifting up to
$1,000 **housing for
WPD**
Dillon Michael
Jaworski, 30
Tobacco Road,
Hephzibah
BCSO, Dec. 21
Jail sanction for
Augusta Judicial
Circuit Drug Court;
probation violation -
felony
Jamarion Jaiwan
Hughes, 32
Tucker Ave.,
Waynesboro
WPD Dec. 24
Criminal trespass;
false imprison
ment; burglary - 1st
degree (felony);
kidnapping; battery
Toni Katharina
Washingtron, 26
Bussey Ave., Thom
son
BCSO, Dec. 20
Aggravated cruelty to
animals (2 counts)
Willard Winford
Davis, 65
Old Waynesboro
Road, Keysvi/le
BCSO, Dec. 25
DUl-refusal; seatbelt
adult; failure to yield
for authorized emer
gency vehicle
Sardis
Continued from front
Controversy surrounds this steam engine that has been a
Sardis staple for decades.
Kendall Rashad
Rhodes, 23
Brown-Mobley Road,
Sardis
BCSO, Dec. 26
Criminal trespass;
obstructing law
enforcement officers;
simple battery -
family violence (2
counts); obstructing
or hindering persons
making emergency
telephone call; safe
keeping for Jenkins
County SO
John Marquell
Bunyon, 27
Magnolia Acres,
Waynesboro
BCSO Dec. 23
Probation violation
for fingerprintabte
charge-felony (3
counts); bench war
rant - misdemeanor
AGENCIES
BCSO: Burke County Sheriff’s Office;
WPD: Waynesboro Police Department;
GSP: Georgia State Patrol;
MPD: Midville Police Department;
SPD: Sardis Police Department;
DOC: Department of Corrections
DNR: Departmentof Natural Resources
DISCLAIMER NOTICE: ALL ARE PRESUMED INNOCENT UNTIL PROVEN GUILTY IN A COURT OF LAW
1022 N. Liberty St v Waynesboro - 706-551-0876
out he has received public con
cern regarding its removal. A
comment made by Troy Redd
indicated that he spoke with
Robert Bell who said he was
concerned that someone climb
ing on it could get hurt and he
did not want to be held liable.
However, City Clerk Jennie
Johnson stated that the city’s
liability policy would cover
any injuries.
The council voted to send a
letter to Robert Bell dated De
cember 15 requesting that he
provide “proof of ownership”
in an effort to resolve the mat
ter before any action is taken to
remove the steam engine from
the park. The panel will ad
dress the issue again during the
council meeting January 11.
However, a 2013 agreement
signed by Robert Bell and act
ing mayor at the time, Preston
Conner, states The City of
Sardis recognized that Robert
Bell had agreed to loan the old
steam engine. It also states that
the city further acknowledged
that any heir or heirs of Robert
Bell might make a potential
claim to it at a future date and
thereby the city agreed to re
lease it if a claim of ownership
was made in the foreseeable
future. Additionally, Robert
Bell also gave his permission
to the city to refurbish it at the
city’s expense.
“It’s been in Sardis for over
60 years and now he wants
to move it,” Oliver said in an
interview Monday. “My ques
tion is if it’s his and it’s been in
Sardis for over 60 years, why
all of a sudden does he want to
move it?”
Oliver questions whether
Robert Bell ever legally had
the right to loan it to the city in
the first place. She wants to see
proof that Robert Bell legally
obtained the steam engine from
Hardee Bell.
“It’s historical for Sardis,”
she said of the engine. “People
come by and take pictures; it’s
an icon in Sardis.”
Robert Bell’s wife, Shirley
Bell, said in an interview Tues
day that her husband is going
to move it regardless of what
the council says.
“It was handed down to
him when he was a (kid),” she
said. “I don’t know where any
paperwork is on that thing.”
Former Sardis Mayor Pres
ton Conner weighed-in on the
subject Tuesday during an
interview. He said it was al
ways his understanding that the
city was borrowing the steam
engine and that Robert Bell
always retained the right to
move it if he chose. He pointed
out that the steam engine,
manufactured in Waynesboro,
Pennsylvania, is missing parts
and holds no economic value.
“Personally, I do not think
there has ever been a question
as to the ownership of it,” he
said.