Sheriff's Office - Special Operations

Law Enforcement Center Richmond County
Sheriff's Office

Special Operations

Captain Mike Prickett - Captain

Lieutenant Scott Gay - Field Operations

Lieutenant John E. Whittle - Administrative Services

Lieutenant LaVerte Tutt - Special Duty Coordinator

Sergeant Robert Cross – Headquarters Sergeant

Special Operations currently consist of six separate units. These include the Crime Suppression Team, the D.U.I. Task Force, the Motorcycle/Traffic squad, the Weed and Seed unit, the Safety Patrol and two Housing Unit Squads.

Special Operations is a subdivision of the uniformed Patrol Division, and are housed in both North and South Precincts, depending on there assignment. Special Operations utilizes techniques such as 'selective patrol' and 'saturation patrol' to gain compliance in Federal, State and local laws. These units also provide support to other divisions within this agency, as well as, to outside agencies upon request.

Crime Suppression Team
D. U. I. Task Force
Motorcycle Division
Weed and Seed Division
Safety Division

Crime Suppression Team

The Crime Suppression Team is under the direction of Lieutenant Scott D. Gay. The crime suppression team is a multi-function unit assigned to the Special Operations, and is currently based out of the South Precinct. The Crime Suppression Team is currently comprised of ten deputies and one sergeant. This team is in constant demand, as they can be deployed for saturation or directed patrols in any area for as long as needed. Their flexibility allows regular patrol units additional time to answer calls for service, as well, as to provide a proactive approach in combating the criminal activity therein.

The Crime Suppression Team is very versatile. Although primarily a uniformed team within the Patrol Division, deputies are often utilized in non-uniformed assignments to include stake-outs, narcotic and prostitution suppression efforts. They are utilized extensively when executing search warrants or high risk arrest warrants. When not being used on special intervention requests, these deputies are assigned to known high crime areas, with the primary focus on street level drug activity.

Members of the Crime Suppression Team are hand picked based on their experience, education and training. Although it is considered a privilege to be assigned to the team, it is also very demanding and requires great devotion to duty. Members are assigned to details at a moments notice, and frequently are asked to miss their assigned off days in order to complete an assignment. Several members of the Crime Suppression Team are also members of the Sheriff's Office S.W.A.T. team.

If you would like to report criminal drug activity, the Narcotics Hotline number is (706) 828-DRUG (3784). All information is confidential in nature, and you do not have to use your name. All cooperation and assistance is greatly appreciated.

D. U. I. Task Force

The DUI Task Force is under the direction of Sergeant Pete Lamb , and has been in existence since 1992. This unit's sole and primary function is the detection and apprehension of intoxicated drivers operating on the roadways within Richmond County. The overall objective of the task force is to reduce highway fatalities through the diligent enforcement of the D.U.I. laws.

The D.U.I. Task Force averages over a hundred DUI arrests each month. They also have one of the highest conviction rates in the state of Georgia. Each member of the Task Force is specially trained in use of Radar, Standardized Field Sobriety Testing and in the operation of the Intoxilyzer. Additionally, the D.U.I .Task Force members receives training in D.U.I.-Drug detection, and in advanced aspects of DUI law.

In addition to the five man D.U.I. Task Force, the Sheriff's Office also operates a D.U.I. van. This van is equipped with a state of the art Mobile Breathalyzer unit. Violators are taken to the van, tested , and if the test results are positive, transported to the jail by this unit. This function greatly reduces the downtime of the field forces and enables the Task Force members to remain in the streets.

Motorcycle Division

The Motorcycle/Traffic Squad consists of twelve motorcycles units, one parking violation deputy, and is under the direction of Sergeant Raul Fernandez. This squad focuses on gaining voluntary compliance of all traffic laws by citizens through aggressive enforcement of the traffic code. The goal of this aggressive enforcement is to reduce personal injury and property damage resulting from traffic accidents.

The Motorcycle units also handle the investigations of motor vehicle accidents, traffic surveys, and assist with the effort to increase seatbelt usage. One additional duty of the motorcycle units is to provide funeral escorts, as needed. Due to their mobility and maneuverability, they perform this function much more efficiently than a vehicle could. These units have become very professional and proficient in handling funeral escorts, and constantly receive accolades for their efforts.

Broad Street is the assigned patrol area of the parking violation deputy. This deputy is responsible for the enforcement of the parking regulations along Broad Street and its adjoining roads and streets. This patrol area is covered by foot.

Weed and Seed Division

The Weed and Seed Unit consist of three deputies and is under the direction of Lieutenant John E. Whittle, who has over 35 years of service with Richmond County. This unit came into existence in January of 1999, via a grant from the U.S. Department of Justice. The grant originally provided for six deputies and one supervisor. Their function is to provide a law enforcement presence in the Barton Village Community.

Through aggressive patrol of the community, they identify and apprehend the criminal element, thereby "weeding" out the undesirable elements. This includes combating drug activity, the high crime areas within the community, and identifying the undesirable characters. It is their responsibility to return the neighborhood to those citizens residing there, and to create an atmosphere of security, safety and well-being. This division is headed by

Visit Weed and Seed that is-Funded by U.S. Department of Justice

Safety Division

The School/Safety Patrol is under the direction of Sergeant Clifford Seago. Sergeant Seago is responsible for overseeing the county's 97 school crossing guards who are positioned over the entire county. It is his duty to ensure that the crossings are covered each school day, and if a replacement is needed, he must notify a substitute guard. This function requires early and flexible hours.

Sergeant Seago has additional duties of inspecting all commercial cabs and limousines in Richmond County biannually. This duty is performed in an attempt to ensure that all taxicabs and limousines, operating in Richmond County, are clean and safe.

Housing Unit Squads

Through an agreement with the Augusta Housing Authority, the Sheriff’s Office provides deputies for patrol of properties under the control of the Authority. Funding for these deputies is provided by means of a federal grant from the U.S. Department of Hosing and Urban Development, and administered by the Augusta Housing Authority. The Housing Authority patrol consists of 13 deputies and 2 sergeants, subdivided into 2 squads. These squads work a 12-hour rotational shift, providing coverage 7 days a week in those areas required by the agreement. Patrolling by vehicle, bicycle and on foot, deputies utilize a community oriented policing concept to address problems, and are highly effective in reducing drug and other criminal activities in their areas of responsibility. Deputies may patrol individually, in pairs or as an entire unit depending on the needs and nature of problems, they are addressing. These units provide a valuable asset in supplementing patrol division coverage and are often used to assist narcotic and criminal investigator units as well as serving as an information resource.

In January 2004, an existing “Weed and Seed” program was absorbed into the Housing Squads. This program, initially funded by a federal grant, targeted a multi housing residential area to address violent crimes and drug activities. The Augusta Housing Authority owns approximately 150 properties within this residential area, and this “marriage” between the two units complimented the efforts of the housing units, weed and seed units and the Augusta Housing Authority. The area patrolled by the Weed and Seed units has greatly improved since the implementation of this program. Through the high profile presence of law enforcement and the involvement of the community as well as other outside social services, the quality of life in this area has steadily progressed.

Combing these units increased the number of deputies assigned to each housing squad to 9, which has enhanced the delivery of law enforcement services to the public.

Georgia Department of Public Safety