K-9

The Lowndes County Sheriff’s Office Canine Unit is commanded by Sergeant Herb Bennett. Currently, the unit consists of canines who are cross-trained for patrol and narcotics detection. Eight of those canines are cross-trained for patrol work and narcotics detection. The cross trained canines are responsible for finding criminals, lost people, evidence, as well as narcotics detection. The other four canines are single purpose canines, which are utilized strictly for narcotics detection.

The canine handlers work in various areas of the agency, which allows for the most effective law enforcement response for the community. There are canines assigned to narcotics, warrants, patrol, and the jail.

To be a canine handler one must attend an initial canine school consisting of 400 patrol and 400 hour narcotic school. Once the canine team are released from the school and assigned a specific assignment, they must continue monthly training. Each canine team is required to attend training twice a month.

Transport

The Jail also consists of the Transport Division under the supervision of Corporal Todd Moye.  The Transport Division is a team of (8) eight personnel which handles the transport of prisoners to and from Prison, Detention/Diversion Centers, Rehabilitation Centers, mental health transports and any special details they may arise.  If you would like more information on the Transport Division, you may contact Corporal Todd Moye at #229-671-3043.

ICE

The mission of the Lowndes County Sheriff’s Office Interstate Criminal Enforcement (ICE) Team is to enforce traffic laws on all major highways in Lowndes County. The team is pro-active and trained to look beyond the stop, in an attempt to interdict and suppress crime.

Training

The mission of Training Section is to provide the best possible training for new deputies, in-service personnel, and police personnel from other agencies who avail themselves of our services. The Training Section is manned with 3 sworn and 1 civilian employees. While servicing approximately 230 employees. Lt. Joseph Dukes is the Training Coordinator.  The Administrative Clerk is Haley Goble.

The Training Section provides 52 hours of mandatory training for all Certified Peace Officer personnel and Certified Jail Officers.  This is in addition to any other training an employee may need depending on their qualifications or certifications.  Training includes:

Firearms tactics and officer survival training: Utilizing a wide array of training tools and techniques. The training includes building searches, pullover and approach, defensive tactics and many other tactical methods to address current risk management issues. Classes include on-duty and off-duty pistols, rifles, shotguns and less lethal weapons systems. Using a combination of a computer simulators (FATs) and simunitions. Students role play and can be involved in simulated confrontations with the staff who pose as suspects. These confrontations use real weapons that shoot “Simunitions”, which is a high-tech paint ball. This training is some of the most realistic training, deputies and police officers will ever face and prepares them for many tactical situations they may face while doing their jobs.

Keeping abreast on the changes in court decisions and new laws is the cornerstone of good law enforcement.  Always keeping the constitutional rights of the citizenry at the fore front of training.  Commonly covered subjects are:

• Domestic violence
• Search and seizure/arrest
• Emergency operation of vehicles/pursuit
• Handling of the emotionally disturbed
• Care, custody, restraints and transporting of prisoners
• Special Operations: Special Response Team, Narcotics and High Risk warrant service
• Response to Active shooting

D.A.R.E.

The Lowndes County Sheriff’s Office D.A.R.E (Drug, Abuse, Resistance,  Education) Program is a nationally acclaimed drug prevention program. It was adopted as the official program for the state of Georgia in 1990.  In September 1991, it was implemented by the Lowndes County Board of Education. It is a collaborative program in which Law Enforcement and local schools join together to educate students about personal and social consequences of substance abuse and violence.

The D.A.R.E curricula are science based and is the largest and most effective educational delivery network. D.A.R.E is highly interactive, using small group discussions and role playing of real life situations that kids face constantly - the temptation and peer pressure to use tobacco, alcohol and drugs. Rigorous scientific evaluation has documented that kids who complete the D.A.R.E program, have improved decision making skills and view drugs as unacceptable and possess a significantly decreased likelihood of ever using drugs.

The Sheriff's Office assigns a D.A.R.E. instructor to every elementary school in Lowndes County who teaches students for a twelve week block of instruction per school; ending with a culmination ceremony. D.A.R.E is also taught with a two week program in the middle schools and high school as well. The deputies are also very active in many other community oriented services.

Members of the D.A.R.E team in addition to being certified law enforcement officers, receive additional yearly training in facilitating in a classroom setting and effective teaching methods and updates as mandated by D.A.R.E America.  When not in a classroom teaching, each D.A.R.E officer remains in the school. Given that many of out schools populations are getting very large, schools are communities of their own. D.A.R.E officers protect those communities.

Narcotics / Warrants

The Special Operations Division was formed in early 2006 to combine officers assigned to several units into one cohesive unit that can more effectively focus its attention on certain aspects of criminal activity in Lowndes County. This combining of units allowed for a more productive use of our resources and streamlined our ability to respond to citizen complaints and department needs. The Division is comprised of members of the Lowndes County Sheriff’s Office Narcotics and Fugitive units, and members of the FBI Gang Task Force. The primary tasks assigned to the Division is the suppression and apprehension of those violators associated with narcotic and vice related crime, gang crime, and all persons with active warrants or court orders for their arrest. The Division has three K9 teams assigned for fugitive apprehension and narcotic detection, and a Haz-Mat unit for clandestine lab processing and cleanup. Members of the Division receive intense training in many areas such as high risk warrant service, hostage rescue, barricaded suspects, high priority escorts, CQB, explosive entry, and electronic surveillance techniques, along with many other aspects of tactical operations associated with our job. All members of the Division are also assigned to the Sheriff’s Office Special Response Team (SRT).

SRT

SRT

School Resource

Every school in Lowndes County is assigned a School Resource Officer. The School Resource Officer will provide a safe and secure learning environment on or around the school campus. The basic fundamental of the officer is to be a positive role model while counseling students who may need direction. The officer will support and assist school administration while providing numerous resources in maintaining order within any Board of Education. A School Resource Officer is in essence, community policing in the microcosm of the school environment. The officer confronts a multitude of problems both in the traditional police role of preventing and detecting crime, apprehending violators, the prosecution of those violators, to traffic control, to and including counseling students and staff with varying degrees of personal problems. The school itself is more than bricks and mortar; it is a glimpse to the past traditions, a reflection of the present society, and a window to the future of that culture. Resource officers have the critical opportunity to exert a positive influence on the children who are the road to becoming adult members of our society.

The position of School Resource Officer can be viewed in the context of that of a small town police department. The officers assigned to the middle schools with their populations of 1100 to 1400 or more students and staff confronts similar problems as that of a single officer working for a town with a similar population. The officers assigned to Lowndes High School with its daily population of around 3000 persons, which exceeds the population of many towns in Georgia and other states, have to deal with similar requests for service as officers working for small police agencies. The job of School Resource Officer is an opportunity for investment in the future of our community with an ability to impact that future in a way that few other positions in law enforcement can rival. In addition, School Resource Officers provide a first line of defense in the war on terrorism be it from foreign or domestic sources. Whereas most officers respond to active shooters, the school resource officer is already there and usually alone when it occurs at a school it is the resource officer that is entrusted with our most valuable possessions; our children.

Gang Unit

The Lowndes County Sheriff's Office is a member of a multi agency gang and violent crime task force operated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and comprised of investigators from the Lowndes County Sheriff's Office, the Valdosta Police Department, the Colquitt County Sheriff's Office, and the Thomasville Police Department. The unit targets criminal enterprises focused on violent crimes and related activities as associated to both local and regional organized and semi-organized gangs, as the threats faced by our community have increased with the dramatic rise in such offenses. The goal of the unit is to both deter and / or prosecute offenders involved in gang activities, to educate the community as to the threats posed by these offenders, and to assist other divisions of the Lowndes County Sheriff's Office and associated law enforcement agencies in addressing crime related issues. Members of the unit are sworn FBI Task Force Officers, and as such investigate and prosecute criminal activity related to our mission in and around our area, regardless of state jurisdictional boundaries, utilizing the manpower, technical support, and financial resources of the Federal Government to accomplish our goals and better serve the citizens of our communities. Questions or information can be forwarded to the Lowndes County Sheriff's Office Tip Line at (229) 671-2985.

Dive Team

The Dive Team was formed in 2003 with the intention to have only a few S.C.U.B.A. certified divers. Since the originating date we have grown to 14 divers all of which are Advanced Open Water divers and Rescue diver certified. The Dive Team is a combination of members from all divisions at the Lowndes County Sheriff’s Department. Our main focus is the recovery of Evidence that would be used in the prosecution of Criminal Activity; however we do assist in the recovery of drowning victims. The Dive Team assist other agencies as needed or requested. The team has the following equipment available at any time; a specially equipped van, two large boats, four smaller Jon boats, and other specialized equipment.