ABOUT FCSO

The Forsyth County Sheriff’s Office is the third-largest, full-service Sheriff's Office in Georgia. FCSO is responsible for law enforcement services, jail management, court security, and serving the writs and papers of the courts. The Sheriff is a constitutional office and reports directly to the citizens of Forsyth and not the county government. Operating out of four primary locations, with nearly 500 employees, the men and women of the Sheriff’s Office stand ready to ensure Forsyth County continues to be a safe place for our citizens and visitors.

The Forsyth County Sheriff’s Office proudly earned accreditation from CALEA, the Commission on Accreditation for Law Enforcement Agencies. FCSO has also been awarded voluntary certification by the Georgia Chiefs of Police Association.

As an agency, Forsyth County Sheriff’s Office is committed to providing exceptional service and safety; and believes that Forsyth citizens deserve nothing less. FCSO has identified core values that drive the actions and service delivery. These core values are fundamental convictions and beliefs that the Sheriff’s Office holds so firmly that they cannot be altered by circumstances. The values and how they are defined serve as FCSO’s ethical compass in making decisions and taking actions. These values are referred to as "The Forsyth Way."

MESSAGE FROM THE SHERIFF

As an agency, we are committed to providing exceptional service and safety. Our citizens expect and deserve the best law enforcement service we can offer. We have identified core values at the Sheriff's Office which drive our actions and service delivery, Out core values are fundamental convictions and beliefs that we hold so firmly that they cannot be altered by circumstances. Our Values serve as our ethical compass in making decisions and taking actions. We refer to these values as the "Forsyth County Way", and they are Integrity Counts, Service Matters, Excellence is our Goal, We are Here to Serve our Community, We Approach Crime Proactively, We Treat People Consistently and Fairly, and We are Innovative in Our Service. Please call on me if I can ever be of assistance to you.

Ron H. Freeman

Sheriff, Forsyth County Georgia

First and foremost, serving as your Sheriff is the greatest privilege I have ever enjoyed, your trust and support of FCSO is not lost upon me and you have my pledge to continue to work non-stop to keep Forsyth a great place to live and raise your family.

As your Sheriff, it is my sworn duty to provide law enforcement services, manage the jail, provide security of the courts, and to serve the writs and papers of the courts. The Office of the Sheriff is a constitutional office and reports directly to the citizens of the county, not the county government. Forsyth County has the 4th largest full-service Sheriff's Office in the state of Georgia, with over 450 employees, the men and women of the Forsyth County Sheriff's Office stand ready to ensure that Forsyth County remains a safe place for our citizens and visitors.

Forsyth County continues to enjoy the lowest overall crime rates in the metro-Atlanta region. Our citizen’s cooperation and communication with FCSO is second to none and a testament to what can happen when community and law enforcement work together. When I was elected as your Sheriff, I made several promises to keep Forsyth safe. Our team has accomplished each and every one of those promises making our community safer and stronger even in the face of continued rapid growth.

In 2017 we were again awarded National Accreditation by the Commission on Accreditation of Law Enforcement Agencies. In 2019 we obtained the next level of Advanced Accreditation, which puts us at the pinnacle of law enforcement best practices and assures our citizens of our commitment to excellence. We have also been awarded voluntary certification by the Georgia Chief of Police Association.

INTEGRITY COUNTS

SERVICE MATTERS

EXCELLENCE IS OUR GOAL

WE ARE HERE TO SERVE OUR COMMUNITY

WE APPROACH CRIME PROACTIVELY

WE TREAT PEOPLE CONSISTENTLY & FAIRLY

WE ARE INNOVATIVE IN OUR SERVICE

THE FORSYTH COUNTY WAY

WE ARE HERE TO SERVE OUR COMMUNITY

Service is the cornerstone of our value system at the Forsyth County Sheriff’s Office. The highest form of service we can provide is to protect the lives and property of our fellow human beings. Our county provides an exciting and diverse environment for personal and professional achievement. Our school system and county resources are recognized nationally for their value. We recognize that our achievements as law enforcement officers will be measured by the level of safety and well-being enjoyed by our community.

INTEGRITY

If Service is the foundation of our value system, Integrity is the mortar that must hold it all together. The Forsyth County Sheriff’s Office will demonstrate, through its actions, an uncompromising allegiance to the core principles espoused within the Police Officer’s Code of Ethics. Every Forsyth County Sheriff’s Office employee will embrace ideals such as honor, duty, courage, equality, fairness, and dignity.

COURAGE

Our courage helps prove us worthy of the trust given to us by the citizens. Our words and actions demonstrate the willingness to venture into danger

and difficulty when our duties call for it.

SERVICE MATTERS

This is a phrase that must mean more than words, it must embody a state of mind, an approach to delivering law enforcement services that recognize that in order to be truly effective we must express genuine concern that we are in the business of serving people. We recognize the dignity of all people and treat them accordingly. Our intent is to always reach beyond the expectations of our citizens. We will work tirelessly to be positive role models in our community.

WE APPROACH CRIME PROACTIVELY

Stopping crime before it occurs is our most important function. Identifying conditions that foster crime in our community and interceding is a joint law enforcement - community responsibility,

but the actual prevention of crime is a task which no other entity can assume, it rests squarely on our shoulders.

WE TREAT PEOPLE CONSISTENTLY AND FAIRLY

The Forsyth County Sheriff’s Office practices this value both within the organization and with the communities we serve. We are flexible in dealing with issues in an open and sensitive manner. We are committed to the consistent application of the law for the common good. We treat people with dignity and respect always. We practice impartiality, equity, and honesty without self-interest, prejudice or favoritism. We continually

remember that we often encounter good people on less than their best day. We display patience and empathy for those in distress and work to

resolve their issues.

EXCELLENCE

We strive to deliver the best service or product possible. This is the ultimate goal for each employee of the Forsyth County Sheriff’s Office.

The effort that one undertakes to obtain such a level of excellence is the most important aspect of this value. Sheriff’s employees are expected to do the best possible job at all times.

INNOVATION

Utilizing creativity to meet today’s challenges is paramount for the Forsyth County Sheriff’s Office to effectively solve problems. While having a consistent process to complete our daily tasks may be valuable in many circumstances, we do not serve this process. We must be willing to seek solutions that exist outside

of our normal methodology

As a law enforcement officer, my fundamental duty is to serve mankind; to safeguard lives and property; to protect the innocent against deception, the weak against oppression or intimidation; the peaceful against violence or disorder; and to respect the

constitutional rights of all persons to liberty, equality, and justice. I will keep my private life unsullied as an example to all; maintain courageous calm in the face of danger, scorn, or ridicule; develop self-restraint; be constantly mindful of the welfare of others, and be honest in thought and deed in both my personal and official life. I will be exemplary in obeying the laws of the land and the regulations of my department. Whatever I see or hear of a confidential nature or what is confided to me in my official capacity will be kept ever secret unless revelation is necessary in the performance of my duty. I will never act officiously or permit personal feelings, prejudices, animosities, or friendships to influence my decisions. With no compromise for crime and with relentless prosecution of criminals, I will enforce the law courteously and appropriately without fear or favor, malice or ill will, never employing unnecessary force or violence, and never accepting gratuities.

I recognize the badge of my office as a symbol of public faith, and I accept it as a public trust. I will constantly strive to achieve these objectives and ideals, dedicating myself before God to my chosen profession… law enforcement.”

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LAW ENFORCEMENT CODE OF ETHICS