Former Deputy Says Berry Has No Clue

From the T&G:

Commissioner Berry is without a clue

Dear Editor,
I find it appalling that a group of highly educated adults that were voted into office by the taxpayers of this county use their egos and personal agendas in an attempt to overthrow the highest elected official in the county. Yes, that is the sheriff. One would think that having attorney Steve Berry on the board of commissioners would be an asset to our county government. However, his knowledge of the law must be diminishing from all the books he has written, time spent in the Camden County Jail (oh yes), and the sunshine someone is pumping to him. Because Mr. Berry and County Attorney Brent Green both know you cannot withhold a sheriff's budget, or cut it beyond operational needs. But for Mr. Berry to vocalize his personal reasons for doing so, without getting the county in a ton of legal trouble, maybe even a lawsuit that the taxpayer will have to foot the bill for in the end is a travesty.As county commissioners, I'm sure you would like to have the say in what the sheriff does or does not do to suit you. Well you do, as a voter, and that is all. The sheriff answers to the voters of Camden, and the governor of the state of Georgia. If the sheriff or any employees have done something wrong ethically or criminally, it's not the Camden County Board of Commissioners job to investigate or draw a conclusion, it is the state's job.
In closing, I ask that you re-evaluate yourselves, and while doing so, ask how much has Sheriff W.E. "Bill" Smith has done for Camden County. Sheriff Smith and his employees have provided their own cars, uniforms, radars, in-car cameras, pistols, rifles, shotguns, radios, computers, scholarships, criminal justice educations for employees, a 911 center, and substation which two cities and our fire/rescue utilize.These items are to only name a portion that has been provided by seized assets (drug funds), at no cost to the taxpayer. That means no cost to you or I, and I'm grateful to them, because my taxes would have been through the roof decades ago. The sheriff is not bound to purchase these items with those funds; it is the county that is to provide them. But for several years of my employment, the county contributed minimal, if any, general fund monies for any of these named items, and still makes minimal or none of these purchases of today, while the sheriff has spent millions so we would have a modernized sheriff's office. So when you feel the sheriff's budget needs cutting, for explaining to you Mr. Berry, investigate and find how much the Sheriff has saved us taxpayers by his aggressive drug interdiction and trusty programs. Then ask yourself what can you as county commissioners do to help our sheriff.Please think with your minds what you're doing to our community; you're tearing it apart and leaving us without adequate law enforcement coverage for the citizens. Be the leaders that I feel you have the ability to be, and make our community a place people want to move to and live in.

Judy A. Godley

Former Sergeant/Deputy SheriffWoodbine

TRSP Review: Ms. Godley, The Sheriff did spend money and it did cost the tax payers whether it is bought through the budget or with the seized drug money does not matter, It is all Camden County's money not the Sheriff's. Now the taxpayers must pay the bill for drug court, because the Sheriff refuses to use the drug money for that purpose.

So you too think that it is OK for the Sheriff to give OUR money to drug dealers. Boy I am glad you are not on the streets now. Those employee are NOT providing their own cars those cars still belong to the taxpayer.

You make it sound like the Sheriff is reaching into his own pocket to pay for guns, cars and radars. Thank you for insulting every taxpayer in Camden, but don't worry the Sheriff does it everyday.

Steve Berry is only backing up what has been said for many years. And I have proven many times that Bill Smith is a lair.