Forsyth Sheriff Talks Crime, Safety With Vietnam Veterans

CUMMING, GA -- There is a reason why Forsyth County is the safest, low-crime county in the state for the last 10 years. That reason is the hundreds of dedicated law enforcement officers who are committed to keeping it that way.

So says Sheriff Ron Freeman during a visit to the April monthly meeting of the Cumming Chapter of the Vietnam Veterans of America.

Freeman outlined various programs and tactics in use by his deputies. One of them is getting implemented and is similar to the HERO units that assist stranded motorists on Interstates around Atlanta. The sheriff said he just started what he calls a Traffic Response Vehicles which will assist disabled vehicles on Ga. 400 during rush hours Monday through Friday.

Freeman said his biggest challenge is what he calls “imported crime.”

"It is bad guys coming out of Atlanta, who are strictly here to commit crimes," Freeman said.

He said they are career criminal and are causing his agency to rethink how they deal with this element. He added that “without any question” these individuals are more violent today than in the past. He characterized them as hoodlums who just don’t have any fear.

With white collar/electronic crime on the rise, the sheriff said he is adding two detectives to his roster whose sole focus will be combating fraud, credit card scams and the like.

Freeman said that the success of his agency is due in part to the "outstanding support" of the citizens of Forsyth County.