Clayton.Talk

By cathy

March 26, 2007 7:36 AM | Link to this

I would like to congratulate Mr. Turner on his appointment as chief. I also would hope that he and the sheriff can found common ground to do the best job that they can do for the citizens of Clayton County. Mr Turner has a tough job ahead; and I wish him all the best. You have worked the streets before; so you know how much of the criminal mind work. Good luck to you; and I have faith that you will do your very best. Please start by stomping out these children gangs that are trying to form around the county and invade our public school systems. I have a teenager that speaks about this happening. Again, congrats and best wishes….

By Lynn

March 26, 2007 7:44 AM | Link to this

The introduction to this blog says that the chief has a plan? Is that right? Has anyone seen it? A plan is not as simple as stating “We’re going to take back Clayton County,” and “We are going to introduce community policing and ask for the public’s help.” Ms. Allen, with all due respect, that is not a plan. Those are words — a plan has goals, benchmarks, objectives, strategies, etc. If someone has seen a real plan, please share the details of it with the rest of us. I am, needless to say, disappointed with the selection. I think Clayton needs a chief who has a history of reducing crime — somewhere. As interim chief, Mr. Turner had an advantage the other candidates didn’t have — he was serving in the position. Not much changed. Clayton residents clearly need to improve our standards, demand more from all of our leaders. No other community in metro Atlanta would tolerate what we allow to occur daily. It’s unfortunate that this Commission did not conduct a thorough national search to find the BEST candidate with a history of reducing crime in an urban area.

By BJ

March 26, 2007 8:18 AM | Link to this

Ms. Allen, with all due respect, can’t you think of something original to blog about? Jeff Turner does not need to be the subject of one of your inane blogs. We already know he is a class act, and I think the citizens have confidence in him, and will support him.

By WTF?

March 26, 2007 9:40 AM | Link to this

I for one am very happy about Jeff Turner becoming police chief. Give the guy a chance to do something before you start tearing him down … he just got the job officially last Tuesday - WTF? If I saw a crime being committed or knew of something going down I would definitely give the police any info I can.

“Taking back Clayton County” is not only a full time job, but it has to be a community effort if its going to work.

By No Way Jose!

March 26, 2007 10:34 AM | Link to this

I’m happy that Jeff Turner got the job, but it is his job as well as that of the police department to catch criminals. I will NOT risk my life or my familys life to help them do the job they are getting paid to do. He knew it was a tough job when he accepted, now he needs to find ways to protect the residents. I’m a tax paying, law abiding citizen so I’m already doing my part as far as I’m concerned.

By Sharon J.

March 26, 2007 12:51 PM | Link to this

Congrats to Mr. Turner on his appointment as Chief. Mr. Turner is on point in asking for the public’s help. The need for the “beat cop” is overdue! Give Mr. Turner a chance and then the residents can decide whether he’s doing a good job or not.

By Ruby M.

March 26, 2007 1:20 PM | Link to this

Congratulations on selecting Jeff Turner as the new police chief. I’m confident he will be able to do a creditable job in Clayton County. Couldn’t we abolish the Sheriff’s Department; merge the staff with the Clayton County Police Department and save taxpayer money?

By givemeabreak

March 26, 2007 1:43 PM | Link to this

No Way Jose - it is people like you who do not want to get involved - allows the criminal element to flourish in communities. If the criminals knew that illegal activity was going to be reported they wouldn’t do it in your neighborhood. Animals normally don’t crap where they sleep.

Congratulations Chief Turner. This was the first good news Clayton County has had in a long time. Whenever you are on the news you are professional and represent the CCPD well.

I would like for you as Chief to monitor the situation at Arbor Place Mall and possibly implement the same thing in Clayton. This would entail on Friday / Saturday evenings, minors must be accompanied by an adult at Southlake Mall and AMC Theatre. I refuse to take my children to the mall or movies on weekends because of the lack of self respect from 99% of the teenagers who hang out there.

Another thing for CCPD to do is to work with teachers in Clayton County Public schools. They can tell you first hand what gangs are active in their school, who the members are, what to look for, etc.

By Chris

March 26, 2007 6:13 PM | Link to this

I would ask the chief how it feels to achieve this position on the backs of those who got skipped over because he threatened a law suit each time he was not promoted and what makes him think he deserves it when he couldn’t make the grade on promotions within the department without that threat. I would then like to ask the commissioners what exactly the criteria was which they used. 15 mins per canidate for interviews tells me they didn’t consider things like personal ethics, insightfulness, morals or job knowlegde. If those were considered the commissioners are not only the best evaluators in the business but are also some of the best humans in the world for their insight. They have entrusted our saftey to a man who bent the rules all the way up the ladder. If they think this is the best to offer, which it is not, they really didn’t look anywhere else. If race was part of the criteria Turner was still not the best choice. A man who is at the department right now is the person who should have been asked to apply, Major Sherman Lemon. Plus he earned it !

By Just Curious

March 26, 2007 6:36 PM | Link to this

Just curious…Ms. Allen, just how long have YOU lived in Clatyon County (since you have said “our new chief”)? I’ve been a propery owner in this county most all of my adult life. I’ve worked as a law enforcement officer in Clayton County a large majority of those years. And, I know Chief Turner. What specific qualifications did he bring with him that makes him qualified to lead CCPD? “Twenty plus years of service”? I know patrolmen who have worked, and served, longer and are a hell of a lot smarter. From what I know, and have seen first hand of Chief Turner, and the demogrpahic changes that have occured in the past 10 years, he has but only ONE qualification…to be the “first” so- called African-American Chief of Police of Clayton County. Quite frankly, I am not impressed. A good handle on speaking the English language properly would be a start. It is my sincerest hope that he produces what he has promised. But I, for one, will not be counting on his “sound bites” to come to fruition. I welcome Chief Turner to prove me wrong.

By mike

March 27, 2007 7:26 AM | Link to this

Personally I like the way the new chief comes across, myself a product of large urban inner cities. As usual, there are those with some much negativity. It is your community also. Can’t you contribute anything positive to your community? So many stand on the sidelines while real people do the work.

By Lynn

March 27, 2007 10:29 AM | Link to this

Thank you Just Curious for your insight. I absolutely agree with you. The commissioners did what was politically expedient, not what was best for the community. Just take a look at those who support Mr. Turner’s selection. It would have taken courage to say, “none of the eight people is qualified, we are extending our search.” And for that — there would have been a fallout that no politician wants to face. However, it’s unfortunate that looking at issues or decisions critically, is characterized as “negative.” That’s pretty simplistic. Imagine if all taxpaying citizens of Clayton County not only evaluated issues more closely, but we discussed them and shared our concerns with our polititicans. There is clearly not enough of that, and maybe it is because we fear being called racist or “negative.” Again, thank you for offering an honest assessment. My only issue with your post, however, is that the previous chiefs also lacked a command of the English language, so it would be unfair to hold Mr. Turner to a higher standard, at least in that area. Meanwhile, those handful of people who are truly working in the tenches in Clayton must continue the work and support the chief. My prayers are with you, Mr. Turner.

By just wondering ...

March 27, 2007 11:45 AM | Link to this

Just Curious: I’m “just wondering” did any of the patrolmen you knew who worked and served longer and are a lot smarter than Chief Turner run for chief? Because I don’t remember seeing any patrolmen up for the position.

and to Jose - you’re part of the problem, not the solution, even though you think being a law abiding tax payer matters. The majority of Clayton residents are law abiding, its the few bad apples that makes the entire county look bad.

By CCCitzen

March 28, 2007 7:34 AM | Link to this

I’m ready to serve. How can the background process go faster? If not what could one do to join the department without much Law Enforcement experience? There are many of energetic young people who are ready to serve but the attitude of most local departments are looking for candidates with 2 or more years of L.E. experience.

By CCCitzen

March 28, 2007 7:35 AM | Link to this

I’m ready to serve. How can the background process go faster? If not what could one do to join the department without much Law Enforcement experience? There are many of energetic young people who are ready to serve but the attitude of most local departmentsare to recurit or search for candidates with 2 or more years of L.E. experience.

By squidward

March 28, 2007 7:38 AM | Link to this

Why is there no handicap parking spaces for the bus riders at justice center?

By alan

March 28, 2007 7:41 AM | Link to this

Jeff turner seems allot more intelligent that that sheriff guy.

By P.Ingersoll

March 28, 2007 12:43 PM | Link to this

In response to BJ, I Congratulate Chief Turner on his position and I commend Ms. Allen for writing about it. This is exactly the type of blogs I look forward to reading each week – current events in the community and ideas and questions that make us think twice. Keep up the good work Ms. Allen. I for one would definitely report a crime if I saw one in taking place. And in response to No Way Jose,… how often have you ever heard of a police officer being at the scene of the crime when its actually takes place? If this were true, crime in CC would be at a historically low rate. That’s why we have to all do our part. If you want to live in a safe community you have to help out. That’s one of CCs biggest problems, people like you always talking about it but don’t want to be about it!

By Joe

March 29, 2007 8:50 AM | Link to this

Be chief for all the people. Seek God’s guidence each morning and give him thanks each night, and you will be all right.

By maggie

March 29, 2007 1:13 PM | Link to this

I feel very good about Jeff Turner. I’ve seen him on TV for years. A friend of mine who used to work for the county knows him and is very glad that the commissioners chose the right person this time. He’s a capable, classy and nice man. NOW the two police depts. can be consolidated, under Chief Turner’s leadership!! Good job!

By J

March 30, 2007 11:58 AM | Link to this

I’d ask him when he was going to kick that mental midget victor Hill out of the county

By Kim

March 30, 2007 12:02 PM | Link to this

Ask “W” for troops now before they all get sent overseas for the foreign war zones.

By Patricia Muhammad

April 3, 2007 10:49 AM | Link to this

In response to the negative feedback, comments, etc., on Clayton county. Clayton county can be as good, or as bad, as the people who live there. In the past Clayton county didn’t have to deal with Atlanta moving it’s previous residents to the suburbs, so that a certain class of people can live in Atlanta. I have lived in Clayton county since 1995, and I have always loved it here. Because of the influx of undesirables in our neighborhoods, we have to endure the problems that Atlanta was plagued with. If we want to keep Clayton county a good place to live, we all have to do our part to make sure that our community is not taken over by thugs.Making sure that Jeff Turner, Victor Hill, and Chairman Bell are held accountable and do the jobs that they were hired to do.