Camden, there's a new sheriff in town
Gregory addresses top issues plaguing county law enforcement.
By Gordon Jackson, The Times-Union
The man who unseated Camden County Sheriff Bill Smith in Tuesday's election is preparing for what he hopes will be a smooth transition between the old and new administrations.
Tommy Gregory campaigned on a platform to restore integrity to the Sheriff's Office, which has been embroiled in a series of disagreements with the County Commission over control of seized asset accounts, the operating budget, inmate labor programs and the number of cars assigned to employees.
Gregory answered questions about his plans for the office after Smith's term ends Dec. 31.
What was your motivation to run for sheriff?
I worked at the Camden County Sheriff's Office over 18 years. While I was there, I identified several problems that needed to be corrected. I shared those views with the sheriff. At the time, he basically said it didn't warrant changes. When I left in 2004 I decided to run for that top seat to make the changes that would benefit the citizens of this county.
How did your father, former Georgia Bureau of Investigation special agent Joe Gregory, influence your career choice?
My father and my grandfather were both law enforcement officers. I admire them both. Both of them told me don't get into this job. ... But I couldn't wait to get in it. I actually got into law enforcement explorers, I did two internships while in high school. Straight out of high school I got hired by the GBI and loved every minute of it. I love helping people and I've been here ever since.
What is the biggest misconception people have about Tommy Gregory, especially among Bill Smith's supporters?
I think Bill has spread the word I'm not qualified, [that] I don't have the leadership skills. I'm the highest certified and qualified person in the county. I've spent my whole life training to obtain almost every certification the state of Georgia offers. I started the first training division. I started the first firearms instructor for the sheriff's department. ... I was their patrol commander. I was their training commander. My qualifications are the misconception. I'm very qualified to take this next step and lead Camden County forward.
Are you concerned you will have problems with the staff at the Sheriff's Office?
I don't think I'll have problems with the staff, but I think they're scared for their jobs right now. The sheriff told them all basically they're going to be fired and that's the farthest from the truth.
Will some Sheriff's Office employees lose their jobs?
Yes. While I was there I saw certain officers and employees commit crimes. My employees represent me, and I'm only as good as the weakest employee there. ... I vowed to clean up the Sheriff's Office. So, if they are committing crimes, they can't work for me.
Can you identify the employees you plan to release?
They still have to work for the current sheriff another 5? months, and I'd rather not identify anybody at this point.
Do you plan an audit of the department?
Yes. I'll hire an outside agency to come in and basically audit and inventory everything that's there.
What changes do you expect people to notice after you take office?
Basically, more police officers on the streets. I'm going to reorganize and reform and transform the whole Sheriff's Office, every department, the management staffing level. We're going to get more people on the streets and basically do it in a budget-friendly way. There's a lot of waste there.
How can you put more deputies on the street and save money?
Currently, the administration is top-heavy. If we get some of these high-paid political positions out of the office, [we can] use the same money to pay [new employees]. For every one of our administrators, you can put two deputies on the street.
It sounds like some of the existing staff may have to accept demotions.
Yes. I truly believe in paying people for what they do. [Some are] doing a $20,000 job and getting a $50,000-a-year paycheck.
Which employees will be allowed to drive county vehicles home?
Patrol deputies and active investigators, because they can be called out for emergency response at any time. A little more than 20 would go home any given night. Two-thirds of the current take-home cars will be parked.
Which employees are going to lose a car?
Any administrative clerk, secretary, jailer and non-sworn personnel will lose their cars. We'll have to keep a few cars for a motor pool for office personnel to run errands during the day.
What will you do with unneeded vehicles?
I'll turn them over to the county for surplus. They can do what they want with them.
Will nonprofit organizations and churches still get inmate work details for chores, such as moving furniture and mowing lawns?
It depends if it meets the guidelines of the law. Just because you're a nonprofit organization or a church doesn't mean you're necessarily going to get a free labor force. ... I'm in the business of public safety, not supplying labor.
How will you use money from a seized asset account?
Basically to benefit law enforcement here in Camden County. Bill Smith has done a lot of good buying other agencies equipment ... but he's in front of the [County Commission] asking for money to take care of his own employees. Let's take care of our own employees before we take care of others.
How much money do you believe will be required each year to operate the Sheriff's Office?
That's an unknown. I ran his budget almost 10 years up to 2004 and we did all three divisions for $5.2 million for the last three years I was there. Currently, they get $6 million to run two different divisions [patrol and jail] and another $1.3 million to run the 911 center. So that's $7.3 [million] for what I used to run on $5.2 [million]. I'm pretty sure I can run on the $6 million that they provide for the two different divisions.
Is the current staff too large, too small or just right?
When I first announced I was running, [Smith had] about 160 employees. Since I was complaining that he has a large staff and only four deputies patrolling he's let that go down ... to 138. One hundred and thirty-eight is close to where it is optimal to run efficiently.
What are you going to do with the boats?
Right now, he's got about 12 boats and he just bought two. We're not in the business of patrolling the waterways. We've got the Department of Natural Resources, two Coast Guard units, the Navy, Marines. We've got a lot of people on our waterways. But, with that said, we still have to respond if nobody else can. I do propose to keep one large boat ... and a small boat in case somebody gets into trouble in one of our smaller creeks. The rest of them, just basically turn them back over to the county and let them surplus them.
What will you do about jail overcrowding?
Aggressively bond people out. If a judge gives them a bond and he deems them to be safe to be in public, I'm going to do everything I can to bond them out. They don't need to sit in our jail at taxpayers' expense.
If you need to create more cell space, how are you going to do it?
We built that jail in 1987. That jail was designed as a pod system to be added on to. The land's there. People in Woodbine are against that. The mayor of Woodbine is against that. And I do feel their pain. But the question is they built in Woodbine knowing the jail's been there since 1929. I propose if we have to build, we add another pod onto that jail.
Will you continue drug and drug money interdiction on Interstate 95?
Yes I will. Every dollar we seize, that's less drugs being transported up and down our highways. Every dollar we get out there is a dollar less our taxpayers have to pay.
What are your plans between now and when you take office?
Reach out to Bill Smith and hope he meets me halfway. The biggest thing is there are a lot of fine employees who work there that are scared for their jobs. They don't need to be scared, they need to be out here taking care of the citizens of Camden County. I just want to make it a smooth transition. I'm willing to meet him 90 percent of the way. He's got to be there to make a smooth transition.
