Spring is one of my favorite seasons of the year and it is right around the corner. Little League baseball’s opening day is a couple of weeks away. High schools are preparing for their regional and state meets and men and women are once again returning to their favorite golf courses. Springtime is the season for renewal, rejuvenation, and resurrection. It is also the time of year for many people to get out and begin enjoying several months of outdoor recreation. Because of the time change, we get to stay out at the lake a little longer or play a few extra holes of golf before darkness sets in. 

Spring is also a very important time for the Dougherty County Sheriff’s Office Crime Prevention and Intervention Unit (CPIU) headed up by Lieutenant Terron Hayes. I have mentioned in previous articles about the success and notoriety of the CPIU with the A&E broadcast of the “Beyond Scared Straight” program highlighting one of our agency’s many juvenile prevention / intervention programs. I hope you had the opportunity to view it for yourself. The “Beyond Scared Straight” program is one of 17 programs offered by the Sheriff’s Office. There are many challenges that families face on a daily basis and we are trying to address each challenge as best as we possibly can with the resources we have available. I firmly believe that for every child or family member whose destructive behavior we can change at an early point in their life, there is a direct benefit and cost savings to the community. I also believe that we cannot afford to continue to build bigger and more expensive jails at taxpayers’ expense. All of these CPIU programs are funded from our “Building Unity in the Community” Golf Tournament held each Spring. 

This is where Lieutenant Hayes and I are asking for your assistance. Our “Building Unity in the Community” Golf Tournament will be held Monday, April 4th at River Pointe Golf Club. Golfer registration will begin at 11:30 am with lunch to follow at 12:00 noon. Shotgun start will be at 1:00 pm. Registration is $70.00 per person with 4 person teams. The tournament will be a scramble format with cash prizes to the top three teams of each flight. There will also be prizes for “closest to the pin”, “hole in one” and “longest drive.” For those who don’t play golf but are interested in helping, there are $100.00 hole sponsorships and corporate sponsorships available. All proceeds from this event will be used solely for our crime prevention and intervention programs.     

I receive many invitations to participate in golf tournaments and other fundraisers over the course of a year. I know some of you probably receive these same invitations and you try to balance which ones to support. I am asking you to consider partnering with us this year.  

Although we will never be able to determine the number of lives that have been saved or improved by these programs, I know there have been many. I have seen the changes and heard the stories from many individuals who have been through one of our programs, dating back to the days of “Deputy Dawg” Frank Sumner.  For every individual we touch, there are others we don’t reach. We desperately need funding in order to reach as many young people as possible. Your assistance and participation with our “Building Unity in the Community” Golf Tournament could give us the chance to reach more. 

If you need additional information or you are interested in partnering with us, contact Lt. Hayes at (229) 431-2169, (229) 344-4363, or Marie at (229) 430-6508. 

Thanking you in advance for your support and God bless!

About Sheriff Kevin Sproul