HOUSTON SHERIFF'S INVESTIGATOR LOSES JOB AFTER DRUG-RELATED WRECK

WARNER ROBINS - A veteran Houston County sheriff's investigator lost his
job last month after he wrecked a police car while on duty and his blood
test came back positive for crystal meth, authorities said.

Sgt. Gerald "Mickey" Dees, whose career spanned 22 years at the sheriff's
department, could not be reached for comment Wednesday.

The 10 days Dees had to appeal his July 30 termination have passed, which
means the disciplinary action stands, said Chief Deputy Willie Talton of
the Houston County Sheriff's Office.

Dees was initially placed on suspension with pay - pending the results of
the blood test - July 11, the afternoon of the single-car accident, Talton
said.

Dees was traveling north on Houston Lake Road when he veered off the road
and ended up in an open field just before the intersection of Houston Lake
Road and Feagin Mill Road at about 2:36 p.m. Dees was not injured, Talton said.

Dees was immediately suspended because it was suspected he was driving
under the influence of drugs, Talton said.

The Georgia State Patrol investigated the accident as a matter of
departmental policy, Talton said. The policy requires that an outside
agency investigate any time an on-duty officer is involved in an accident.

Once the lab results came back from the GBI crime lab in Atlanta showing
that Dees tested positive for drugs in his system, he was terminated,
Talton said.

"He was under the influence of drugs and (that) caused him to lose control
of his vehicle," Talton said.

No charges were filed against Dees by the Georgia State Patrol, Talton said.

Dees tested positive for crystal meth, which is methamphetamine, said Capt.
Harry Enckler, who oversees criminal investigations for the sheriff's
department.

The blood test did not show how much meth was in Dee's system, only that he
tested positive for the street form of the drug, as well as the
prescription form of the drug, Enckler said.

But Enckler said the amount is immaterial because any amount is too much.

Sheriff Cullen Talton agreed. "I can't have any officer working for me who
was doing illegal drugs," he said.

Chief Deputy Talton said the state agency that monitors certification of
law enforcement officers will be notified of Dees' termination. If Dees'
certification is revoked by the Peace Officer Standards and Training
Council, he will not be able to serve in law enforcement in Georgia, Chief
Deputy Talton said.

"He was a good investigator," Enckler said. "I just hate that it happened."