MAJOR GENERAL (RET.) JAMES E. DONALD AND PROBATION STAFF ARE HONORED July 2009 Newsletter The Board of Corrections and Commissioner Owens presented Major General (ret.) James E. Donald with a Board Resolution on Thursday, June 4th. The Board honored him for his service as former Commissioner of the Georgia Department of Corrections. (First Photo) In honor of Probation, Parole, and Community Supervision Officers Week, probation staff were presented with the Governor's Proclamation. Probation and Parole Officer week is July 13-17. (Second Photo) WARDEN & CHIEF PO PRE-COMMAND TRAINING SERGEANTS ACADEMY GRADUATION On June 25, the Department graduated 27 students from its Sergeants Academy. The class consisted of 16 Sergeants and 11 Lieutenants. Class topics include ethical leadership, communication skills, and stress management. The Sergeants Academy prepares students to become effective leaders. To date, 223 Sergeants and 39 Lieutenants have attended and graduated the program. In this Issue: Gen. Donald and Probation honored Pre-Command Training Sergeants Academy Graduation Special Operations Unit Tifton DRC Graduation Probation Firearm Competition Mountain Judicial Circuit Fox Theatre Teambuilding Tour Metro SP "Scared Straight" tour Customer Service Champion Macon Probation Office This was the first Pre-Command Training program that included participants from both probation and facility operations. Participants learned basic leadership and managerial skills necessary to operate an effective probation circuit or correctional facility. A total of 28 participants completed the pre-command training including Deputy Wardens, Unit Managers, Superintendents, Chief Probation Officers, P.O. III's, and a Day Reporting Center Administrator. SPECIAL OPERATIONS UNIT The Special Operations Unit presented Commissioner Owens with a display of weapons that were found during facility shakedowns in the past year. TIFTON DAY REPORTING CENTER GRADUATION CEREMONY The Tifton Day Reporting Center (DRC) opened in January 2005. On June 9, the center held a commencement ceremony at Beulah Hill Baptist Church for participants that completed the six to nine month program. Tifton DRC had a total of 23 graduates. Pictured left to right: Rick Jacobs (Director of Special Operations), Michael Nail (Deputy Director of Corrections), Amy Fortner (Special Operations Coordinator), Commissioner Owens, Mike Griffin (Sergeant at Ware State Prison), James Hinton (Special Operations Coordinator), and Paul Lindner (Special Operations Logistics Coordinator). Upcoming Events: July 1 - Fiscal Year 2010 Commencement July 4 - Holiday observed on Friday, July 3 July 13-17 - Probation/Parole Officer Appreciation Week July 15 - Teambuilding - Metro State Prison tour July 23 - Teambuilding - Braves Baseball Game ANNUAL PROBATION FIREARM COMPETITION The Annual Probation Firearms Competition sponsored by the Georgia Probation Association (GPA) was held on May 21st at Georgia Public Safety Training Center in Forsyth, Georgia. There were numerous competitors this year and many attended. Michael Lee of the Athens Probation Day Reporting Center won first Place. Kevin Sharp of the Gainesville Probation Office finished second and Lee Oxford of the Griffin Circuit finished third. After the competition, the participants were treated to a cookout hosted by GPA. Red Dog Police Supply presented the trophies. Pictured left to right: Walt Crosby, Manager of Red Dog Police Supply, Michael Lee of the Athens DRC, and Michael Kraft, area 2 FOM and President of GPA. MOUNTAIN JUDICIAL CIRCUIT ASSISTS WITH GOVERNOR'S TASK FORCE ON DRUG SUPPRESSION Did You Know? According to the Office of National Drug Control Policy's website, hydroponic marijuana was the most seized drug in Atlanta's high intensity drug trafficking area in 2007. About 6,001.65 Kilograms were seized. Hydroponic marijuana is grown in water instead of soil. On June 9, Mountain Judicial Circuit Probation Operations had a unique opportunity to work with the Governor's Task Force on Drug Suppression. Mountain Judicial Circuit Surveillance Officer Robert Hale is on temporary assignment to the task force as a ground crew leader. The task force consists of officers and staff from Georgia State Patrol, DNR, National Guard, GBI, DEA, and Civil Air Patrol. Probation Operations officers assisted the ground crew in Stephens and Franklin Counties along with local law enforcement authorities. A grow plot consisting of 105 marijuana plants was located. They helped to secure the scene and seize the plants. TEAMBUILDING TOUR OF THE FOX THEATRE On Thursday, June 25, five members of Central Office participated in a teambuilding event by taking a tour of the Fox Theatre along with 22 other citizens from around the World. The tour was 90 minutes and it gave a behind-the-scenes look at the historic theatre. The tour group was allowed access to many areas not typically seen during a performance. The tour guide provided many details about the building of and the preservation of the theatre since it's original opening in 1929. All attendees had a great time. METRO STATE PRISON'S "SCARED STRAIGHT" TOUR The Public Affairs Office sets up prison and facility tours for the public. The majority of people that tour the facilities are students and at-risk youth. On Wednesday, June 24, seven teenage girls participated in Metro State Prison's "scared straight" program. All of the girls are currently serving probation. A CERT team member escorted the girls throughout the facility as though they were being taken to prison. The girls saw female inmates going through the intake process and they listened to inmates tell their story of how they ended up in prison in hopes of changing the girls' future decisions. Commissioner Brian Owens Public Affairs: Joan Heath, Director Sharmelle Brooks, Editor Kristen Stancil, Contributor Contact: 404-656-9772 GDCinfo@dcor.state.ga.us www.dcor.state.ga.us A WORD FROM OUR CUSTOMER SERVICE CHAMPION So often we think of customer service as an interaction occurring between our GDC staff members and external customers. However, it's important to know that internal customer service is just as valuable. Chief Probation Officer Michael Sherrer had an exceptional internal customer service experience after he and another staff member began to experience mechanical troubles on Interstate 20. He and Probation Officer Susan Echols had just completed an audit of the Augusta Circuit when they started traveling back to Washington, Ga. They were able to get off of the interstate and into a nearby parking lot. CPO Sherrer called CPO Wyatt Windham of the Augusta Circuit and explained their predicament. CPO Windham personally went to the local repair shop and arranged for a rollback to pick up the car and he also scheduled to have a repairman check out the problem. CPO Windham also dispatched his Surveillance Officer Anthony Lee to the location to pick up the keys so the repair shop could check out the problem. CPO Windham also offered one of the Augusta Circuit vehicles for them to drive home, although they had already arranged to be picked up by the Thomson Office. Due to CPO Windham's assistance, they were able to get back in Washington in less than an hour and a half. CPO Sherrer and PO III Echols want to commend CPO Windham and his staff for their outstanding, "Helpful" customer service. From Cathy Smith: Thank you and please continue to share your stories of exceptional customer service. Cathy Smith, GDC Customer Service Champion MACON PROBATION OFFICE SPONSORS LOCAL HIGH SCHOOL On May 8, 2009, the Macon Probation Office participated in an annual pinning ceremony for the ninth grade class of Southwest Magnet High School and Law Academy in Macon Georgia. The ceremony was hosted by the Southwest High School Graduation Specialist along with Teacher Support Specialists. The Macon Probation Office is a local sponsor for the high school. Page 2 James Dubry-Complex President Rosalyn Davis-PO III, Macon Probation Office and Freshman Class President JaTaurius Miller Mr. and Miss Ninth grade and PO III Rosalyn Davis.