Endorsement for Bibb County sheriff
Two high-profile Bibb County races that have drawn the most attention are for sheriff and tax commissioner, not just because of the races themselves but for the confusion created by the balloting process. Both races are on the Democratic primary ballot only. Voters who opt for the nonpartisan or Republican primary ballots will not have the sheriff or tax commissioner on those ballots. Since there are no Republican candidates for those offices, the winner Tuesday will take office in January.
Sheriff David Davis, who was elected four years ago, has two challengers, Mike Smallwood and Tim Rivers. The Editorial Board did not interview Rivers. Smallwood has worked in just about every aspect of the Sheriff’s Office and is running, he says, because he has more experience than the present sheriff. Smallwood worked patrol, communications, the drug squad, criminal investigations and put in more than 40 years in the office before retiring. He thinks too many people in the Sheriff’s Office are sitting behind desks, and he would put them out on the streets on patrol. He also would try to bring back retirees to help.
Smallwood thinks the morale of the office is low and says the office has an unprofessional climate. He wants residents to know whom they can talk to to get a case number and easily get the name of the investigator working their case.
Davis, since taking office in 2013, has built a new law enforcement agency, merging the Macon Police Department and the Bibb County Sheriff’s Office. He points to his qualifications and training from working in various departments in the Sheriff’s Office to becoming deputy chief to continuing education at the FBI’s National Academy. He says it takes a different set of skills to run an agency that is the eighth-largest law enforcement organization in the state, and he brings his 37 years of experience to bear every day. He’s proud the office is certified by the Georgia Association of Chiefs of Police, something achieved by fewer than 20 percent of law enforcement agencies.
There are many reasons this Editorial Board has chosen Davis for its endorsement. We have observed consolidation in other communities. One of the most contentious areas always has been law enforcement. In Athens-Clarke County, the sheriff was reduced to just the constitutional duties mandated by law, and the chief law enforcement officer is appointed. In Augusta-Richmond County, where the sheriff is the top cop, the process was a train wreck. Twenty-one years later, it is still a work in progress. Some call it a disaster.
In just a short period of time, Davis has been able to equalize most of the salaries of former police officers and deputies, something that could have blown up the office if left to linger too long. That took a deft and skilled hand as well as trust. His office has solved 90 percent of the homicides, and he has dealt quickly and forcefully with deputies who have crossed the line. He has continued the outreach programs of the office that have inspired trust in the community, the latest being his PRIDE program that goes hand-in-hand with his community walks with his deputies and command staff.
We also like his philosophy of law enforcement as the protector rather than the warrior. He believes the warrior mentality in law enforcement is what has led departments in the wrong direction and breeds mistrust between those who are supposed to be protectors of their communities but are rather seen as invading enemies. Too often we have seen the warrior mentality played out with disastrous consequences.
We see no reason to step back in time. Davis has created a new agency, contributed to the success of consolidation and helped avoid the pitfalls seen by other communities. We endorse David Davis for sheriff.
This story was originally published May 21, 2016 at 9:00 PM with the headline "Endorsement for Bibb County sheriff."