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Sheriff Candidate Simmons Expresses Continuing Commitment to Public Service
My wife Patricia and I first visited Fayette County in 1989, and we immediately fell in love with the area. Like many other new residents, we were attracted to the area because of its excellent schools and great quality of life. In 1994 we purchased a lot in the Whitewater Creek community. In February of 1996 I retired from the Detroit Police Department and was appointed to the position of Chief of Public Safety for the city of Highland Park Michigan. During this time, Pat and I began construction of our new home here in Fayette County. We moved into our new home on July 19, 1996 and for the next nineteen months, I commuted between Michigan and Fayette County. I officially moved to Fayette County just prior to Christmas of 1997. I attended my first Whitewater Creek Home Owners Association annual meeting, in January, 1998. At that meeting, I volunteered to serve on the association’s Board of Directors. I accepted the position on the board due to my passion for public service. I have been a public servant all of my adult life. I am currently the President of our association’s Board of Directors. I have served on my community’s Board for a total of eight years. Since moving to Georgia, I have held the following positions: From 1998 to 2001, I served as an administrative manager with the Georgia Capitol Police. From 2002 to 2005, served as the President and Managing Director of MetroGuard Protective Services, an Atlanta based security guard company. Currently, I am the owner of David L. Simmons & Associates, a private security consulting firm. Since moving to the county, I have enjoyed living here and have generally felt very safe. However, several years ago, I began to notice things starting to change in the county. You may recall the 2002 robbery of the Ingles Supermarket, on Highway 92, when fleeing robbers killed a motorist on Easter Sunday. You may remember the 2005 armed robbery of the Tinseltown Theater. We have noticed incidents of youths committing robberies in Fayetteville and Peachtree City. Many of these crimes were committed by criminals who reside outside our county and travel some distance to get here. For years Fayette County residents have been told that criminals seldom crossed Highway 138 to commit crimes. It is now apparent, however, that criminals no longer fear committing crimes in Fayette County. Since December, 2007 county residents have read newspaper reports of gang activity, smash and grab robberies, purse snatchings and other criminal acts. County residents have recently informed me that northern parts of the county are experiencing a rash of residential burglaries. Recent arrests would seem to indicate that many of the persons committing crimes in the county are coming from counties north of Fayette County. The escalation of criminal activity in the county can be attributed to perpetrators who are attracted to the growing number of retail businesses in the county, such as the Fayette Pavilion in Fayetteville, or the Avenue in Peachtree City. In 1976, the county’s population stood at approximately 28,000 residents. Today, more than 106,000 residents live in the county. Whenever you have a rapid increase in population, you can expect that retail business will also be attracted to the area. It has been said that “retail follows rooftops”. Today, Fayette County is a thriving, healthy, and culturally diverse community. Each day thousands of visitors travel to the county to shop in our fine retail establishments. These businesses pump millions of dollars in taxes into our economy. Unfortunately, criminals and opportunists are also attracted to thriving commercial areas. Long-time residents of the county have informed me that they fear shopping in the Fayette Pavilion and that they no longer patronize our local theater. Numerous residents have informed me that they travel to Coweta County to go to a movie. Real or perceived, many county residents feel uncomfortable shopping at the Pavilion. I decided to enter the race for sheriff because I strongly believe that I am uniquely qualified to handle the crime problems now facing Fayette County. Of the current candidates for sheriff, I am the only one who possesses a Bachelor’s degree in Criminal Justice or a Graduate degree. I am the only candidate who has prior experience dealing with youth gangs. I am the only announced candidate who is a Certified Protection Professional (CPP). Only 10,000 security professionals worldwide have earned the designation of CPP. I am also the only candidate who has completed the F.B.I. National Academy. The Academy provides a professional course of study for U.S. and international law enforcement leaders. It serves to improve the administration of justice in police departments and agencies at home and abroad, and to raise law enforcement standards, knowledge, and cooperation worldwide. The mission of the Academy is “to support, promote, and enhance the personal and professional development of law enforcement leaders by preparing them for complex, dynamic, and contemporary challenges through innovative techniques, facilitating excellence in education and research, and forging partnerships throughout the world.” The administration of 21st century law enforcement agencies demands education beyond high school, whether it is a 2-year or 4-year degree. The chiefs of police of Fayetteville and Peachtree City all have earned postsecondary and graduate degrees. Both chiefs are graduates of the F.B.I. National Academy. When I am elected sheriff, I will offer to join forces with local chiefs of police to initiate innovative crime suppression programs in the county. I have successfully used these programs to address crime problems in other jurisdictions. I will aggressively work to eradicate gang activity in the county. I will join forces with federal and state law enforcement officials to identify and arrest major drug traffickers who reside in our county. When I am elected to serve the citizens of Fayette County as your Sheriff, I pledge that I will do everything in my power to protect your lives and property. I pledge that I will do everything in my power to restore the peaceful way of life that we all have enjoyed for so many years. I will ensure that our laws are aggressively enforced. I will also work to ensure that the Sheriff’s Department is operated in a professional and cost effective manner. I will treat all department personnel with dignity and mutual respect. To learn more about my candidacy, or to volunteer to work on the campaign or to make a contribution, please visit my website at www.simmonsforsheriff.org. I can be contacted by email at dsimmons@simmonsforsheriff.org or by phone at 770-716-9088. Sincerely, Home | Simmons | Back to top
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