January 2021

NCSO 2021 january

NEWSLETTER

A MOMENT WITH A New Term, A New Year, A New Vision

As we embark upon and successively voyage through a new year (2021), I want to convey my sincere thanks and appreciation to the remarkable men and women of the Newton County Sheriff’s Office for your continued enthusiasm, dedication and perseverance. I sincerely thank all of you who supported my re-election for another term this past November, as well as those who did not.

As many of you are aware, Law enforcement is rapidly changing. New crime techniques, advanced technologies, and evolving relationships with communities are altering the very foundations of the law enforcement function. Innovative and a novel Law Enforcement strategy that completely transcends enforcement or community engagement, is crucial.

However, success at these changes will require a shift in the philosophy of law enforcement agencies. I certainly understand that change is difficult; conversely, not changing can be fatal. We can never expect to see change if we never make any. As a renowned German scientist by the name Georg Christoph Lichtenberg once said and I share that view, “I cannot say whether things will get better if we change; what I can say is they must change if they are to get better.”

With this change, we must become supplementary adaptable, innovative and forward thinking; we must become solution-based and exceedingly collaborative. It is critical that we as an agency be enormously service-oriented and community focused; emotionally intelligent, accountable, and more importantly, produce results. Finally, we must lead and inspire, develop ourselves, and cultivate others.

This change will require that we immediately adopt the four pillars of procedural justice, which are (1) Remaining fair in our processes, (2) Being transparent in our actions, (3) Providing an opportunity for voice, and (4) Being impartial in our decision-making.

Additionally, it is my desire that each of you be aware of the following principles that have been established for the men and women of this agency as we advance through this year, including the next few years.

As a team we are “Committed to Excellence” by means of effecting:

Integrity We will procure and preserve the confidence of our citizens by being personally and professionally accountable to supremely honorable standards. We will conduct ourselves beyond reproach, persistently being conscious of justice, with the resolve to unceasingly maintain these principles.

Compassion We will constantly exhibit the uppermost admiration for everyone and be considerate of their sentiments at all times. We will be responsive to the community, as well as each individual with care, compassion and consciousness.

Equality We will maintain a criterion of honesty and respectability, unfettered of egocentricity and nepotism. We will be conscientious, judicious and objective in all our actions.

Professionalism We will persistently provide exceptionally trained, dedicated, determined and dependable personnel with positive attitudes and appearance, that will demonstrate alertness, self-discipline and effectual service to the entire Newton County community.

Awareness We will diligently strive to significantly reduce inmate personal conflict through the administration of enhanced emotional intelligence and personal life-solving skills.

Analytical We will unwaveringly endeavor to maintain a posture of inmate-reconciliation, by assisting incarcerated

SHERIFF BROWN persons to engage in constructive and non-violent methods of reverential problem solving, in an effort to secure a triumphant resolution to interpersonal and group conflicts.

Competence Development We will continually promote and generate opportunities for the development of problem-solving skills throughout the inmate population, by training incarcerated individuals to be mentors and productive citizens in society.

As Deputy Sheriffs, it is my hope and prayer that you currently possess and/or possess a yearning for the following attributes: D – Devoted E – Efficient P – Productive U – Unbiased & Unflappable T – Transparent & Trustworthy Y – Yearning to Learn S – Self Confident H – Honorable E – Empathetic R – Responsible I – Insightful Innovative F – Forward-Thinking F - Focused Please understand that the challenges facing law enforcement in the 21st Century are extremely complex and continually changing. Some of these challenges are novel solutions to old problems; however, some are totally new-fangled, sophisticated challenges that could not have been imagined 20 years ago and consequently, officers are somewhat ill-equipped to effectively address them.

Sheriff Ezell Brown Newton County, Georgia

As law enforcement officers, we are generally the first line of defense, making certain the streets are secure, the most vulnerable people are protected, and those who commit crimes are apprehended. The men and women we employ at the Newton County Sheriff’s Office are often asked to provide their time, frequently sacrificing their lives, in an effort to ensure the total protection of the citizenry, as well as businesses in Newton County.

High profile incidents such as those that occurred in Ferguson, Missouri and other cities and states throughout the nation, have rocked the public’s confidence and exacerbated various challenges our deputies are currently encountering.

As a result, we as law enforcement professionals, are endeavoring to adapt to extraordinarily fast-paced changes that are challenging our ability to effectively fulfill our law enforcement responsibilities and safeguard public safety. With your help, however, we can conquer this monumental task.

I kindly ask that you put your best foot forward, as we journey through this year, inclusive of years to come, in order to assist in making this the finest and most proficient Triple Crown Sheriff’s Office in these United States of America.

general information The goal of the Newton County Sheriff’s Office is “to be recognized as the kind of professional organization that values, respects, and honors the rights and dignity of the entire community. Through an abundance of collaborative efforts, the NCSO is committed to improving life in every aspect for its citizens, businesses, schools, colleges/universities and visitors.”

The Newton County Sheriff's Office is located at 15151 Alcovy Road in Covington, Georgia. From I-20, take Exit 92 onto Alcovy Road and travel north on Alcovy Road for approximately one mile and cross over Highway 142. The Sheriff's Office will be on the left.

The administrative office hours for the Newton County Sheriff's Office are 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Monday through Friday, excluding county holidays.

The Newton County Jail is open 24 hours, 7 days a week.

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contact numbers

GENERAL INFORMATION SHERIFF’S SECRETARY JAIL INFORMATION JAIL FAX INVESTIGATIONS INVESTIGATION FAX PATROL UNIT TRAFFIC UNIT WARRANT UNIT WEST SIDE PRECINCT EAST SIDE PRECINCT TIP LINE

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678-625-1403 678-625-1401 678-625-1420 678-625-1450 678-625-1412 678-625-1451 678-625-1410 678-625-1469 678-625-1411 770-788-7812 770-243-8227 678-625-5007

social media

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@newtonsheriffga Featured Photo: Sheriff Ezell Brown posed for his updated headshot.

Newton County Detention Center faces covid-19 On January 7, 2021, the Newton County Sheriff’s Office began experiencing a COVID-19 outbreak within a section of its Detention Center.

As of January 31, 2021, the number of positive COVID-19 cases within the Newton County Detention Center decreased from 22 residents to 4 residents, all of whom show little to no symptoms. We can contribute the reduction of positive cases to the tireless work and cooperation of our medical and detention staff.

Based on our contact tracing and investigation, we have reason to believe the initial 21 residents contracted the virus from staff. We had one resident that was housed at another facility where an outbreak occurred prior to arriving at our Detention Center. As always, we test all incoming residents for COVID-19, and they are placed in quarantine for 14-days then are retested before being placed in any other form of population. Unfortunately, the results came back positive for the resident who arrived from the facility where an outbreak occurred. The resident showed more symptoms than the other 21 residents who tested positive.

None of our residents appear to exhibit life-threatening symptoms.

Due to the outbreak, we restricted movement within those two areas and increased our medical staff to give round-the-clock attention to the residents who are exhibiting little to no symptoms at all. The resident, who was transported to us from another facility, was quarantined in a zero-pressured unit and received special attention as a result of his symptoms.

He has since recovered.

We regret that this situation occurred, but we are no different from the normal population within the county who tested positive for COVID-19. From last March up until January 7, 2021, we have not experienced a single COVID-19 case in our Detention Center and for that, we are blessed.

I send my regards to the mother who called with concerns about her loved one and not being able to bring him chicken noodle soup, as requested, and to visit for a physical hug.

Her loved one, who was the resident housed in the zero-pressure area, had access to all needs, with the exception to phone services. Keep in mind that the resident could not leave the zero-pressure area until he recovered due to the fact he could have infected other residents and staff.

The allegation made about the residents not having access to soap is untrue. We insist our residents keep their personal hygiene at the highest level.

We insist that each and every inmate shower daily and change clothes to maintain proper hygiene and to maintain the highest level of cleanliness.

Regardless of these false allegations, we are, in no way, hiding information from the public regarding the COVID-19 outbreak in our Detention Center. We have never once attempted to hide information, and we are not going to start today. We believe in the highest level of transparency. Since the pandemic began, we have strictly followed all CDC guidelines. We will continue doing everything we can to

We regret that this situation occurred, but we are no different from the normal population within the county who tested positive for COVID-19. From last March up until January 7, 2021, we have not experienced a single COVID-19 case in our Detention Center and for that, we are blessed. ensure the safety of all staff and residents.

Additionally, we have developed a testing procedure for staff to help minimize the spread of COVID-19 in the Detention Center. We offer COVID-19 testing to all detention staff during briefings, which are held twice a week.

In an attempt to control the outbreak, we will continue to conduct routine testing of all residents that are willing to submit to it.

And these are the facts, regardless of whatever information is being circulated online about this outbreak.

Your Sheriff,

Ezell Brown

deputies participate in drive-by baby shower Deputy Michael Gregg and Deputy Tim Smith attended the driveby baby shower for Destiny and Marcel Woods at their Covington residence on Jan. 16, 2021. The Woods family is expecting a baby boy.

Sheriff Ezell Brown and the Newton County Sheriff’s Office wish the best for the Woods family and their baby-to-be.

tax commissioner sworn is as ex-officio sheriff

Sheriff Ezell Brown swore in newly-elected Newton County Tax Commissioner Marcus Jordan as Ex-Officio Sheriff on Jan. 8, 2021, at the Newton County Judicial Center. Jordan previously served as the Newton County Chief Tax Appraiser.

sheriff brown swears in all ncso employees From January 12-15, 2021, Sheriff Ezell Brown swore in 157 deputies, 61 detention officers, and 50 administrative staff in a ceremony held inside the Newton County Sheriff’s Office’s Training Room. Every four years at the beginning of the Sheriff’s new term, it is mandatory that all employees take the Oath of Office.

A GLIMPSE INSIDE THE EXPANSION PROJECT

In July 2020, the Newton County Sheriff’s Office began expanding its headquarters located at 15151 Alcovy Road in Covington. The pictures displayed on this page show a glimpse inside the newly-added areas of the Sheriff’s Office.

The buildings are still under construction.

The expansion is adding an estimated 7,000 square feet of administrative space and 3,000 square feet of training space.

COMMITMENT loyalty sacrifice dedication www . newtonsheriffga . org