H.E.A.T.
Highway Enforcement of Aggressive Traffic

Since the first of February, the HEAT Unit has participated in several events. Sgt. David Martin and Deputy Eddie Englett, Jr. returned to Hall County for the second wave of Rolling Thunder. Dozens of arrests were made there, including a subject that had several bags of marijuana and a gun in his pants.

The HEAT Unit also attended the Western Regional Traffic Enforcement Network's monthly meeting. This was Sgt. David Martin's first meeting as network coordinator. It was held in and hosted by the Temple Police Department. Several arrests were made and charges ranged from possession of methamphetamine to DUI. There were also several other traffic violations.

On March 1st, Deputy Englett taught the Alcohol and Drug Awareness Program to students from around metro Atlanta. There were soon-to-be licensed drivers in attendance from as far away as Walton County. Students from Douglas, Gwinett, Cobb, Fulton, Cherokee and Dekalb Counties were also in attendance. Sheriff Miller continues to provide this service to our residents at no cost and as of March 1st, we were one of only three departments in the state that had any ADAP classes being hosted on the Department of Driver Services website.

Later this month, the HEAT unit will be visiting all local high schools to provide an impaired driving workshop to the juniors and seniors at each school. This workshop includes driving simulator training, talks on the dangers of impaired and destracted driving and the opportunity to drive the "Drunk Cart."

As always... Slow down, buckle up and drive sober!

Since January 1st, 2011, the Douglas County Sheriff's Office Highway Enforcement of Aggressive Traffic unit began its new year with a bang. Over 20 impaired drivers have been taken off of our roadways, including one Habitual Violator with 4 prior DUI convictions. Traffic related fatalities have dropped again for the fourth year in a row since the inception of the HEAT unit. In 2006, Douglas County had 26 traffic fatalities. In 2010, we have lowered that number to 13. Even though the number has been cut in half, the HEAT unit will continue to aggressively pursue impaired, speeding and unbelted drivers.

The HEAT unit also continued its mission to educate our newly and soon-to-be licensed drivers. Sgt. David Martin and Dep. Jeff Duncan instructed Alcohol and Drug Awareness Program classes at the Douglas County Public Library. Sheriff Phil Miller is one of the few agency heads that still allows his deputies to teach this class at no cost to the community so that students who miss the instruction in public schools can still receive the valuable training that it involves. In the last class, there were students from all over metro Atlanta including 19 from Douglas, 13 from Cobb, 4 from Paulding, 2 from Fulton and 1 from White, Carroll, Coweta and Fayette counties. Also, Dep. Eddie Englett, Jr. instructed Standardized Field Sobriety training to our local Law Enforcement Explorer Post which is part of the Boy Scouts of America.

Our HEAT unit isn't just active locally. Since our unit is funded through a Governor's Office of Highway Safety grant, we participate in all statewide enforcement mobilizations. The first mobilization of the year was Operation Rolling Thunder in Hall County, GA. It was attended by Sgt. David Martin and Dep. Eddie Englett, Jr. In this deployment, 23 impaired drivers and 46 suspended drivers were taken off of the roads in two days! We will continue to participate with other HEAT units around Georgia during this 90 day enforcement wave.

The Douglas County Sheriff's Office H.E.A.T. Unit consists of Sgt. David Martin and Deputies Jeff Shipp, Eddie Englett, Jr., Jeff Duncan and Kenny Turner. These deputies have over 60 years of combined law enforcement experience.

The H.E.A.T. Unit focuses on educating the motoring public as much as on enforcement. We hold Traffic Safety Demonstrations with Our Breath Alcohol Testing Trailer, Driving Simulator and Golf Cart Cone Course at the Local High Schools, Arbor Place Mall and other local businesses. Our educational and enforcement efforts have helped lower our traffic crash fatalities for each of the last five years.

As of June, 2010, you must now buckle up in your pick up truck. It only takes a couple of seconds to "click on" your safety belt and it is one of the simplest things you can do to protect yourself in a violent crash!

In July, 2010, the new texting while driving and under 18 cell phone usage laws went into effect. These laws are aimed at these dangerous driving habits in an effort to reduce accidents and fatalities.

Sgt. David Martin elected Coordinator of the Western Region Traffic Enforcement Network

• Last Tuesday, January 25th, Sgt. David Martin of the Highway Enforcement of Aggressive Traffic unit was elected coordinator of the Western Region Traffic Enforcement Network (WRTEN). The Western Regional Traffic Enforcement Network consists of Haralson, Carroll, Heard, Troup, Douglas, Coweta, Paulding and Meriwether counties and all 38 law enforcement agencies within these counties. WRTEN is one of 15 regional traffic enforcement networks throughout the state. In his new position, Sgt. Martin will be responsible for coordinating all multi-jurisdictional traffic enforcement activities in West Georgia. Congratulations to Sgt. Martin! For more information on the WRTEN, visit their website at http://www.wrten.org/

The Douglas County Sheriff's Office H.E.A.T. Unit is a Specialized Traffic Unit partially funded by The Governors Office of Highway Safety. We enforce all traffic laws, but our priorities are Impaired Drivers, Speeders and Unbelted Drivers and Occupants.

Our unit consist of five highly trained deputies with a combined 65 years of law enforcement experience. This includes certifications in Radar, Laser, the Intoxilyzer 5000, Field Sobriety Testing and Advanced Traffic Law. Each Deputy is also a Certified Field Training Officer.

We have three Child Seat Technicians, a P.R.I.D.E. and A.D.A.P. Instructor, a Drug Recognition Expert and two deputies in the process of completing the nine week Accident Reconstruction School.

We hold Sobriety Check Points throughout the county and conduct Concentrated Patrols during most holiday weekends.