Assistant Executive Director’s Message
Every day, we have the privilege to walk in the presence of heroes, those
individuals who give sacrificially of themselves daily to ensure the lives of
others are better.
Dwayne Orrick
GACP
Assistant Executive
Director
To view current
events, legislative
alerts and other
up-to-date info visit
our website
www.gachiefs.com
Recently, however, many in our nation have become concerned with the
perception of an effort to systematically attack and de-legitimize many of
our nation’s institutions including law enforcement and the courts. Over
the last 25 – 30 years the expectations of law enforcement officers and
their leaders have expanded exponentially. Some of the characteristics
we expect of our officers include being a: Servant, Enforcer, Guardian,
Scientist, Technician, Attorney, Warrior, Psychologist, Administrator,
Bureaucrat, Politician, Publicist, Athlete, Mediator, Problem Solver,
Confessor, Role Model, Counselor, Clerk, Emergency Medical Providers,
Researcher, Investigator, Communicator, Traffic Coordinator, Marksman,
Expert Witness, Process Server, Public Speaker, Security Specialist,
Professional Driver, Finance Specialist, Human Resource Manager, and
Planner.
The judicial system officers must work in is contentious by its very
nature. The complexity of this environment is compounded when officers
are placed in rapidly evolving situations that require instantaneous
decisions. Each of these will be evaluated repeatedly by individuals with
no understanding of the circumstances that occur but enjoy the privilege
of making them with the benefit of hindsight in a comfortable, relaxed
environment.
Today, our police officers and leaders are more responsive and held to
higher standards than any other government officials. Georgia is an at-
will employment state, so anyone can be terminated from employment
for any reason, provided it does not violate federal discrimination
statutes. Appointed law enforcement leaders do not enjoy a four-year
grace period. Rather, most are held accountable at least twice a month
before their elected governing body.
Second, there is no other organization in the United States that a person
can make one call and within a few minutes more than $100,000 in
personnel and equipment will arrive at their location to address their
problem.
Third, no other public official or profession receives the scrutiny or has
the transparency requirements of today’s law enforcement officers and
leaders. Can one imagine elected officials having each discussion with a
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www.gachiefs.com • Page 4 • 2nd Quarter Newsletter