Sheriff, police chief differ on drug squad pursuit policy

Published 4:39 pm Wednesday, August 2, 2017

THOMASVILLE — A local elected official said a bad guy, no doubt, is bound to try to flee from lawmen in a drug case.

Pursuit of such suspects was the subject of an often-heated Wednesday meeting of the Thomasville-Thomas County Drug Commission at the Jail-Justice Center.

The Thomas County/Thomasville Narcotics/Vice Division is made up of Thomas County Sheriff’s Office and Thomasville Police Department officers. The agency is funded for six agents, a commander and an administrative assistant.

Thomas County Commissioner Wiley Grady, a drug commission member, asked if an “impasse” exists in the drug squad.

The dilemma involves sheriff’s office and city police pursuit policies. The two agencies differ on pursuits.

Grady recalled an agreement that puts the drug squad strictly under the sheriff’ office.

“That part has not changed,” Police Chief Troy Rich said.

City liabilities are involved in pursuits, the chief said. 

“That becomes the muddy and gray area,” Rich said.

Pointing out the Wednesday drug commission meeting was his first, Thomasville Mayor Greg Hobbs said Thomasville City Council will conduct a workshop to discuss the pursuit situation.

“It has been brought to our attention it is a problem,” the mayor said.

The sheriff’s office standard operating procedures allow pursuit of a suspect who flees, but the city’s does not.

“We must bring them in one way or another,” said Louis Schofill, narcotics/vice commander.

Standing and addressing the meeting, Thomas County Sheriff Carlton Powell said city council put the drug squad under the auspices of the sheriff.

“It’s been that way for 24 years,” said Powell, who has been sheriff for four decades.

The sheriff said Rich told him city officers cannot chase. 

“Two sets of rules won’t work,” Powell said.

A city drug squad agent was suspended with pay after a chase in the city while police conducted an internal investigation of the incident. The agent quit the department after the suspension period ended recently.

“I think it’s a travesty that he’s gone,” said Jim Prine, a senior assistant district attorney and a drug commission member.

The only other city officer in the drug squad is afraid to go out on a call, resulting in agency inefficiency, Schofill said.

Powell, the drug squad commanding officer, said a city agent was told not to talk to him.

“ … All of a sudden here, we can’t work together,” the sheriff added. “I don’t like it.”

Powell, who pointed out to the drug commission he is chosen by the countywide electorate and protects cities and unincorporated areas, said he will not operate a drug squad with two sets of rules.

“As long as I am the sheriff, we will have a drug squad,” Powell told the commission.

Maj. Eric Hampton, TPD public information officer, told Powell residents are concerned about someone being killed during a pursuit.

“What if they (criminals) kill somebody?” Powell asked Hampton. “Who told you this?”

“People in the street,” Hampton responded. 

Powell told Hampton to bring a couple of the people to talk to him.

The mayor said clarity is needed in the city’s pursuit policy.

“Bad guys are going to run when it comes to drugs,” Hobbs said.

Saying Powell is the most powerful elected official in Thomas County, Hobbs said the drug squad should follow the sheriff or establish a separate agency in the police department.

The police chief said the TPD is dedicated to the drug squad. But TPD policies are not, Powell responded.

The city pursuit policy needs to be “tightened up,” Rich said.

Schofill interjected that the drug squad is not as effective as it could be because of the difference in pursuit policies.

“I always thought the drug squad was under the sheriff’s office,” Grady said.

“It has been until about two weeks ago,” Schofill responded.

The commander asked, “So we’re operating under two different people?” Rich responded, “Correct.”

Hobbs said the pursuit situation would be addressed immediately by city council.

“So what would happen if the city cannot pursue?” Grady asked.

Said the mayor, “I don’t think it’s going to happen that way.”