ELLIS CRITICIZES SHERIFF, CALLS FOR COOPERATION

Macon Mayor Jack Ellis, critical of the Bibb County Sheriff's Office
for not notifying police before conducting drug raids in the city, is
calling on Sheriff Jerry Modena to provide deputies to a Macon
police-run drug unit.

"The chief of police will lead all local law enforcement efforts in
the city of Macon as is spelled out in our charter," Ellis said at a
Tuesday news conference at City Hall. "I call on the sheriff for his
full support."

Modena met Monday with Police Chief Mike Burns to discuss the death
of Bibb County deputy Joseph Whitehead and the possibility of forming
a joint task force.

Both Burns and Modena agree that a task force to fight drugs would be
helpful, but the two don't agree on who should run it.

Tuesday's news conference was the latest in a series of public
statements about cooperation between the sheriff's office and the Macon police.

Modena said he supports a joint drug task force run by the sheriff's
office since Macon police don't have jurisdiction in the
unincorporated county. Modena's vision of a joint task force also
would address the gang problem.

"Number one, I am the sheriff of this county - all the county, the
city and the county. It's great that they feel responsible for their
community, but I, too, have a responsibility," Modena said.

Modena also noted that the sheriff's office used to run a joint drug
unit that included Macon police officers.

Modena said it's evident police need the help. He said the average
Macon police officer is doing an "outstanding job," but he pointed
out that the department is understaffed and has lost several good
officers through the years.

"My thought was they needed the help, and if I erred that was the
error," he said. "I'm not trying to do a takeover of the city."

Still, Ellis said Tuesday that residents should not be led to believe
that Macon police officers are not doing their jobs. He pointed to a
series of arrests and drug busts that police have made since Jan. 20
including 13 search warrants by the police drug squad.

"We don't want anyone to think we are sitting back, resting and
waiting for someone else to come in and do our duties," Ellis said.
"That is not the case."

The mayor said there is no reason why deputies shouldn't have alerted
Macon police to drug raids like the one Whitehead was involved in.

"That is unacceptable," Ellis said. "I call upon the sheriff to work
with the chief of police. At the bare minimum, we must share information."

Modena said he has agreed to notify police about some future drug
raids when possible but said some actions take place quickly. The
sheriff said details aren't always revealed even to other deputies.

Burns said he was disappointed that Modena said he wouldn't notify
police about drug raids in every case.

"I'm concerned we might both have operations in the same area, and
the results might not be good," he said.

Burns said he and Modena did not discuss at Monday's meeting a
five-person gang task force that Burns is creating. Burns said a
violent crime task force already is addressing the gang problem in Macon.

Burns said he has committed a police officer to the
multi-jurisdictional task force, which includes Bibb, Jones, Peach
and Crawford counties. Burns said he thought that was a compromise
with the sheriff.

Burns said he is responsible for safety in the city and addressing
problems there. He said he needs to be able to direct the drug unit
to problem areas.

"I want a joint task force for inside the city because that's what
I'm responsible for," he said.

Ellis pointed out that the majority of Bibb County's population
resides in the city, where most drug crimes occur.