There’s not much these days that produces a jaw-dropping reaction from me. In a nation once bathed in freedom, liberty, and support and respect for individual God-given rights, the past few decades have seen all levels of government violate those rights bit by bit until the age of Hussein Soetoro brought an exponential distaste for the basis of our founding. It’s become the norm for the rights of United States citizens to be on the chopping block and violated at every turn. Having had personal experience with the violation of certain rights by those taking an oath to uphold the Constitution, it isn’t surprising when reading in the local paper about the Sheriff’s office receiving “rave reviews” by commissioners with the American Correctional Association (ACA).

The duly elected Sheriff of Newton County, Georgia, Ezell Brown, appeared before the Newton County Board of Commissioners to “share, not only a plaque signifying his office’s recent accreditation, but also some of the rave reviews bestowed upon the Newton County Sheriff’s Office (NCSO) by commissioners with the American Correctional Association (ACA) to the board of commissioners Tuesday.”

Having previously worked for a state prison and assisted in preparing that facility for ACA accreditation, I know the facility receives the accreditation. The staff insures the facility is up to the standards set by the ACA. It is an accomplishment to be recognized. However, what stands out as a sore thumb is the availability of Sheriff Brown to stand in public and proclaim his “honors” while avoiding the issue of his refusal to stand on the Constitution and abide by his oath of office. It never fails the local paper, The Covington News, highlights the good Sheriff’s accolades while refusing to address the unconstitutional operation of the NCSO when dealing with individual God-given rights and the property rights of the residents of Newton County, Georgia.

Standing before the board of commissioners, Sheriff Brown stated that many of the ACA commissioners asked him to explain how his office pulled off the rare feat of meeting 100 percent standards on 60 mandatory standards and 100 percent on 323 non-mandatory standards. One wonders, indeed, as many state correctional facilities do well to meet the required 100 percent on the 60 mandatory much less the 80 percent on non-mandatory standards.

According to the Covington News:

“I give credit to those you see beside me here today, and those I left behind to continue the wonderful work we do every day,” said Brown while standing next to deputies as he described to the Newton County board of commissioners what he told the ACA commissioners.

He went on to say the commissioners discovered in their auditing that Newton County residents feel safe and Brown’s deputies and staff receive support from their manager.

“I said to the commissioners ‘One of the things I realize in leadership is that leadership is like a band director. You don’t worry about playing instruments, you let those who play the instruments play the instruments, and your job is to make sure the band sounds great,” Brown said. “That’s what we do at the Newton County Sheriff’s Office.”

The ACA commissioners also shared their high regards for the NCSO with several of Newton County’s commissioners when they were in town in November performing the audit.

“Each one of the individuals I talked to about the Sheriff’s department, what they had to say about our sheriff’s department was how clean it was, how good the food [served at the jail] was, how good the staff was and everything,” District 2 Commissioner Lanier Sims said.

This is not surprising, since a facility meeting these standards does not equate to upholding an oath, following the Constitution and protecting individual God-given rights. Unfortunately, Sheriff Brown and NCSO fails on all counts. Where is the accreditation for that?

One wonders how the ACA commissioners deduced from a facility audit that residents of Newton County feel safe. Granted, the NCSO responds promptly to calls and works to resolve the issue. When the issue involves individual rights or property rights, however, the NCSO will more than likely deny those rights in favor of a solution equitable to those who intend to violate those rights. And, the Sheriff has little problem with warrant-less search and seizure without probable cause.

Likewise, Sheriff Brown takes issue with the Second Amendment, functioning more as the “poster Sheriff for gun control” than an individual occupying the highest law enforcement position who takes an oath to uphold the Constitution.

Sheriff Brown takes great pride in parading his accolades for the NCSO facility passing ACA accreditation and provides the local paper with an interview to put forth his viewpoints. However, when it comes to answering hard questions on the violation of individual rights, the Sheriff refuses to speak to anyone who will ask hardball questions. More than likely, the powers that be at local paper prevent reporters from asking Sheriff Brown to clarify his stance when it contradicts with his oath and the Constitution.

For an outsider, calling to get an interview with the Sheriff, which he agreed to provide, one is asked by his “screeners” their life story — who are you related to; do you live in the county; how long have you been in the county; what is it exactly that you are calling about; what publication are you affiliated with; where is the publication home office; and, what is it exactly that you want to ask the Sheriff. What does any of this have to do with the Sheriff honoring an agreement sealed with a handshake? Not a thing. It’s a way of screening out any stories that would show the Sheriff and the NCSO in a negative light, preventing any “bad publicity” from appearing on the national stage.

While others may praise Sheriff Brown and the NCSO for their accomplishment with a facility accreditation, I will not give accolades to any Sheriff or office who places accreditation of a facility before honoring their oath of office, upholding individual God-given rights, and refusing to respond to a citizen of the county intending to hold him accountable to his elected position and oath. It would be appreciative if the local paper would do the same. However, no one in any position of consequence in this county wants to provide anything other than rainbows, lollipops, and unicorns to the people when it comes to the Sheriff. The world would stop spinning. The county would explode. Residents would be horrified to know that should federal agents come to “take them away” for no valid reason, detain them indefinitely, take their firearms and seize their property, the good Sheriff would allow the feds in the county to do this and even send deputies to assist. One should ask the deputies where their loyalty lies — to the Constitution, the Sheriff, and/or a paycheck.

Sheriff Brown has his eyes set on the prize of a “triple crown” achievement. In addition to the ACA and the Georgia Chiefs of Police accreditation, Brown hopes the Commission on Accreditation for Law Enforcement Agencies (CALEA) makes a visit to the NCSO. Unlike a top-bred Kentucky racehorse, the “triple crown” means nothing when a Sheriff refuses to uphold the Constitution and answer questions regarding his reason for doing so.

*Article by Suzanne Hamner