SHERIFF DISMISSES DRUG AGENT WHO TESTED POSITIVE FOR COCAINE

VALDOSTA -- A drug agent with the Lowndes County Sheriff's Office has been
dismissed following a routine drug test of the Narcotics Division.

Daryl Tarver, 36, a 12-year member of the unit, was dismissed Wednesday
after he tested positive for cocaine, Sheriff Ashley Paulk said.

Paulk said the drug test is done randomly throughout county offices, but
all members of the Narcotics Unit are tested in order to ensure the
credibility of group.

"It is county policy to do random drug testing," Paulk said. "We
periodically test all of the members of the narcotics unit at the same time
because of the nature of their work. We do this to uphold our credibility
in the community."

Paulk said that as members of law enforcement, he and all of the people who
work with him are naturally held to a higher standard.

"It is our intent to make sure the personnel of the Lowndes County
Sheriff's Office adhere to the standards," he said. "It is without question
that we should not break the laws of Georgia."