Jackie Barrett's legacy
Jackie Barrett was elected Sheriff of Fulton County in 1992. She had the distinction of being the first female African American Sheriff in the country. However, she left office in disgrace at the end of 2004, after being suspended from office and taking paid leave from August 1st while not seeking reelection. The legacy of her stewardship now includes the sorry state of courthouse security that her successor inherited, and the murder of a judge, deputy and court reporter in the courthouse.
Local news for much of 2004 was filled with the continuing saga of how Sheriff Barrett foolishingly invested $7.2 million of public money with investment advisors who contributed $40,000 to her campaign, and lost $2 million of those funds, all in clear violation of state law.
As she was losing millions of dollars that was entrusted to her stewardship, the jail and courthouse security under her control were deteriorating. A federal judge placed the Fulton County jail under the federal court's supervision from 1999 to 2002, and again in 2004. Chief Jailer Roland Lane reported that he often had only one guard watching 200 to 300 inmates, that most of the locks didn't work in the "high-security" cellblock, that inmates wandered about at will, that 20 guards had been attacked by inmates, and that staff injuries were up 45 percent between 2002 (when court supervision was ended) and 2004 (when the federal court stripped Barrett of authority over the jail and put it under a receiver). Once deputies turned loose an accused rapist because they confused him with another prisoner. On another occasion, a prisoner escaped during the filming of a rap video in the jail.
While losing $2 million of public funds in a goofy investment scandal benefiting campaign contributors, for which she denied responsibility, Sheriff Barrett said she reduced court security because of budget cuts. This was not the first breach of security in guarding prisoners at the courthouse. In 2003, two Superior Court judges complained about lax security after confrontations with people who got into private areas of the courthouse.
According to today's AJC, Fulton County Sheriff's Office guidelines allow one deputy to escort as many as four prisoners at a time, and allow a solitary armed deputy to enter a holding cell with a prisoner. Senior Superior Court Judge Philip Etheridge said it was "absolutely ludicrous" that the sheriff's office would allow an armed deputy to be alone in a holding cell with a prisoner known to be a high security risk."This whole thing just makes me so angry because Rowland didn't need to die and Julie didn't need to die," said Etheridge. See article.
Other metro counties had procedures in place that would have prevented such an incident. In Gwinnett County, officers in the courthouse carry stun guns only. In Cobb County, officers in the courthouse carry firearms with trigger locks that only they can unlock, and two unarmed deputies escort defendants into court adn sit nearby while an armed deputy watches from across the room. Clayton County uses belts and leg irons to control potentially violent prisoners. Some departments put a belt under a defendant's civilian clothing that can deliver an electric charge by remote control.
Because of the financial scandal, Sheriff Barrett was suspended and withdrew from running for reelection. During her suspension, an acting sheriff, retired FBI special agent in charge Ted Jackson, was given temporary responsibility for the deputies who serve warrants and provide security at the Fulton County Courthouse. However, Jackson was there strictly on a temporary basis and not in a position to make major institutional changes.
Myron Freeman was the # 2 guy in the Georgia State Patrol before he retired and ran for Fulton County Sheriff. By all accounts, he is a very capable law enforcement professional. He was in office just about 71 days before the legacy of Jackie Barrett's management of courthouse security brought tragic results.
Fulton Superior Court judges have long expressed frustration with the quality of support services from the Clerk of Superior Court and from the Sheriff's Office. Now maybe someone will listen.
See: AJC article, Creative Loafing, 11 Alive, Southern Center for Human Rights.