SHERIFF'S TESTIMONY FOR DRUG OFFENDER RECALLED

This letter is in response to Paul T. Bearden's letter of July 21 ("Voters
picked sheriff, so get off his back"), in which he defended Sheriff Al St.
Lawrence against people who trample on others. Mr. Bearden suggested that
people do a bit of research to jog their memories.

Well, I have done just that, and I would like to remind Mr. Bearden and the
Chatham County community of Sheriff St. Lawrence's relationship to a local
drug offender who he felt compelled to testify for in U. S. District Court
for the Southern District on Aug. 18, 1995.

He emphasized his professional and "very close" personal relationship with
this drug offender and recommended and requested probation.

As the highest law enforcement officer in the county, Sheriff St.
Lawrence's presence in court flew in the face of everything he should have
stood for, and betrayed the public trust.

Before he was elected sheriff, he was chief of the Chatham County Police
Department, which included the Metro Drug Squad, which was responsible for
going after drug offenders. How could he justify his recommendation for
probation for this drug offender?

Drugs are destroying the fabric of our society and the citizens of this
community should never tolerate drug offenders, nor should they tolerate
law enforcement people who defend them.

Now, some members of the Chatham County Commission are trying to merge the
sheriff's department and the County Police Department, which would make
Sheriff St. Lawrence the chief of a department he was not elected to.

A merger of these offices may be appropriate in the future at an election
time when two people are running for the job of sheriff, and it is open and
clear that the position would include the County Police Department.

Chatham County commissioners will meet again on July 27, when they plan to
take up the police-sheriff merger issue again.

I would like to urge citizens to attend this meeting. It is in the old
County Courthouse on Wright Square in council chambers on the second floor
and begins at 9 a.m.

MARGARET MARTIN

Editor's note: Sheriff St. Lawrence's testimony was on behalf of former
county commissioner Deanie Frazier.