Well Chief, I can personally appreciate the "Politics" of running for office. However there is a huge difference between youthful immaturaty and a lack of moral integrity. Now that we know how you feel about the costume, what are your thoughts on the black balloon? As for your residence and tenure here in Cherokee County, there are those of us who have been here much longer and know far more than you do about insider politics. As a Holly Springs resident I don't question your right to post what you did. As with our sheriff I question your judgement. It would appear that the longer one holds a high position the more likely it is that their judgement will deteriorate. That is certainly true on the state and federal level.

I have looked at the last 10 years and i stand the same,
by the way Ken, Roger has resorted to dirty politics in public and on camera and on print. Maybe he should look in his own back yard. I am so sick of people ignoring his dirty politics and hypocratic comments (he can do what he says his opponant shouldnt do ) the gloves are off again look in his own back yard

I wonder what favors Roger has done for Ken. I have personal experience with Roger letting criminals get away with breaking the law. AND yes I have two years worth of proof.

no we are not all safe unless you are "in bed with Garrison
' so to speak
and if you dont want personal mud slinging call Roger and tell him not to bring up a failed marriage, which takes two to make it work as opposed to Rogers costume decision took one, Rogers decision not to arrest my harraser took one, Rogers decision to not control his snarl took only his decision

politics has been dirtyfor centuries where have you been ken?

I applaude the Chief for having his own opinion. The election should be based on what the current Sheriff has done for this county and not his personal decisions. Mr. Waters asked that we not base his abilities to run a department on the fact that he can't seem to maintain a steady relationship(he is on his 5th marriage!), so I don't see why we are worried about what a VERY successful Sheriff did over 20 years ago! Cherokee County has become a very respected county because of Sheriff Garrison's leadership and I have become proud to say I live here because of it! If it isn't broke please don't try to fix it! I for one will be voting to keep the Sheriff in office. I will also thank Chief Ball for his very well written letter in support of the current Sheriff!

Decisions of a young, inexperienced 22 year old Garrison is being tore up by David Waters and his supporters. However, I questions the decision of a 50+ year old, experienced man taking advantage of a bereaved family for his own political gain. Forget his personal life, that's his business.... I question the up and down changes in his titles through the police ranks. I don't want to attack a man I don't know, but at the same time, he is doing a different version of "dirty pool" that no one seems to recognize because they are so blinded by a costume that was worn 30+ years ago. On Halloween, we have or know people who have dressed up as hookers, serial killers (Ted Bundy or Charles Manson) and presidents... does that mean you support or want to be that particular character? Halloween can be a time to dress up as something you wish you were, like a princess.... or it's the opportunity to dress in a manner that is the opposite of who you are, a bum, a monster, etc.... or you pick the most shocking costume....Let's keep this photo in perspective. This photo was not taken at a KKK rally. It was a HALOWEEN Party!!!

Wow Hooker, I can call you a hooker can't I. You've been drinking the kool aid too, haven't you. Please be honest, we all see the brown ring around your mouth.

You don't think endorsing a person going by hooker is going to help anyone do ya? Where I that moral compass now? I guess you would know the man better than anyone would......

So as for the lovely and heart felt enforcement of ken ball, your boss, as I see it, since you are in an appointed position, not elected. You mr. Ball work for mayor Tim downing. I love it when a polical officer wants to step foreword to make a stance when all others don't. Make me curious why now, could it be because your boss, Tim Downing ( mayor) works directly for the dictator roger garrison, are we the voters and constituents of Cherokee county seeing first hand the magical and mysterious workings of a puppeteer. Time to dig deeper and see what true favors are being cashed in.

So.......the powers that be (read Good Old Boys) in Cherokee County law enforcement close ranks. Things really haven't changed that much from the old days........ Now have they?

So does anyone else see a problem with a chief of police writing a nice, long endorcent letter on tax payers time? Or is it just me. Ken, I can call you ken can't I. You have an opinion as ken. As police chief working for a mayor who works for the pleasure of, yes roger garrison. Your opinion about work related matters counts as to how you are going to reduce crime, protect our children, reduce fatalities, all heck, just all around policing. But don't step up to the arena with brown stuff all over your face, because then you drawl attention to Mayor Tim Downing and channel 2 starts asking him some hard questions that right about now could look real bad for his career as a long term polical figure. Hey, follow the money, it always leads to a foul smell.

And yes, I will be addressing the candidates reported contributions. Many will find it interesting how money has been converted from charities to election campaigns. Oh, almost said to much Ken. Remember ken, the tax payers are watching all the waste you've been doing that Major Ken Ball will have to address now. It's time career politicians find new careers and I am going to help show you where the door is.

Hey. Give Ken a break. He's an old Marietta boy. Dirty politics is his norm. Just expect it from him and move on.

So the question remains, who will be the last one standing when the dominos start falling. I've seen first hand, the puppeteer throw Chief Jeff Chance under the bus. Remember that history does repeat itself. Will you be thrown under the bus Ken when garrison runs away from you pointing his finger like some school yard coward or do you think Roger will stand there and take the heat. Careers are made and broken daily Ken. Next time think about what the puppeteer is asking prior to saying " okey dokey" sir.

Jeez when is this election again???? I'm ready to vote and get this mess over with so these people can move on to something else!

Waters is not capitalising or using the family. I approached Waters myself. You dont know shit !! let me tell you about roger rabbit in office. SEE my previous posts exposing Rogers deeds while sheriff, Waters has marriages that take 2 fail and that is all you have. Seems to me David Waters must be a stud.

So when you ran for sheriff ken, why do you think the voters didn't think you were good enough for this county. Lack of experience, education, or they know you wouldnt stand up to the bully in the school yard, kind of how you did this time. Be a man Ken, you do remember how to do the right thing and protect those who can protect themselves.

I would so be impressed and might give some of these comments a bit of consideration IF they were written with proper grammar, pronunciation and proper usage of the english language! It is so hard to even think you could possibly be trying to make a point when you can't even type it correctly! This just says to me that we who do support the current leadership are on the right path if this is an example of what will be if the other party were to be even considered...oh my what would the county become but a country bumpkin land again

P.S. "mad as heck" I believe his name was Lance....the ex chief of canton? just sayin.....

Wow Cindy, I'm sure David's Waters wife is blushing right about now.

JC, I'm blushing now, you are right

Lol my BFF JC

Before we can be even considered BFF's I think you owe at least two folks an apology..."CHIEF" Ken Ball....and Jeff LANCE! :0)

You have been drinking the kool aid too. I'm not an elected official, try to understand freedom of speech, and it sounds clear you support big government, wastefull spending and the governments right to tell you what you can say or you will flex your perceived power.

FYI, I have no issue with Jeff lance, I think he was thrown under the bus because he wouldn't play garrison ball and was a threat to garrisons campaign. My point is garrison takes care of garrison and if any and I do mean any polical figure thinks the garrison won't chew them up and spit them out. Well, then they too are wrong and will learn a lesson too.

As for my grammar or lack of, I am a voice, and can voice my opinion when I want and how I want. Whether proper or improper. You should remember , ignorance clearly can be articulated properly too.

Just look at your last post.

J C Smith seems to be long on words and short on information.

Lots of that going around these days.

Rico, you are one of few who actually can type with a bit of character...so don't sweat it ...I don't agree with what you say and I believe we have come a LONG way from the "Boss Hawg" days! I think it is comments like this that try to keep this mentality alive as opposed to moving on to a more current way of doing things! If you have lived in Cherokee for any lenght of time you should know how much growth we have managed to do and whether you care to admit it or not if this weren't a SAFE county the growth wouldn't be here! If you think that happened without a productive law enforcement agency you are sadly mistaken!

Just for the heck of if JC how long have YOU lived in Cherokee County and have you ever worked within the county system here ?

JC:

Hence your lack of knowledge about the way the system works here.

I would have way more respect for Garrison if he stopped playing the victim, so I have to disagree with Chief Ball. Garrison loves to point out that he was young and stupid, but I didn't see an apology. All I read in the article was that he tried to point out Water's failed marriages and say his family was hurt... Uh... aren't you playing the same type of dirty politics you are accusing everyone else of?

Sheriff Garrison, apologize and tell us how you have grown since your young and stupid period. Tell us how you will make sure this doesn't affect your department. What measures will you take? You owe that much to your constituents instead of excuse and attempts to change the topic. In short, take responsibility for your actions.

I have NEVER worked for the county and I have lived here since 1984!! Next question??? and why am I having Bo Ballard and John Seay flashbacks reading the posts from you supposedly moving forward residents???

David Waters is backed by the Cobb County Fraternal Order of Police!

This is just awful. Clearly you folks are drinking the Water's kook-aid. It's clear who you support. You're all over the boards. I'm all for freedom of speech, but come on, this is getting ridiculous. Sheriff Garrison has led this county through a tremendous amount of growth, and he has done it well. Nobody is perfect, but he has done an exceptional job in his position as Sheriff. And to sit here and cast judgement upon somebody writing in support of a candidate when he knows he'll be attacked? I say, thank you, Ken Ball, for stepping up and speaking on behalf of the Sheriff.

Kool-aid. But Kook-aid works too.

You do have to admit Ken Ball had the BALLS (intentional pun) to put it in writing. Whether you agree with him or not.

And I'm still confused about what "mad as heck" was trying to say. I even tried to have a few drinks to see if it was a drunken rant and still nothing.

My point is, yes Garrison has done some good, buts it's been years since he's delivered. Playing tennis during business hours isn't right. When countless calls to his office are made with zero response from him. Numerous visits to his office and not one single time being available for a concerned citizen. I seen more Garrison in two weeks then in two years, but only apologizing for his actions. Why do our children not get that kind of lead way in our community, but expected to except that from your actions. Why is it that I've seen an officer in some areas writing tons of tickets in known areas designed for passing and within in the passed 30 days can't find an officer in sight. When I asked that very questions the response I got was an order came down to back off until after the election. So people, if you didn't like things before the election got heated, well you will have four more years of the same thing starting August 1st if we don't make a difference now.

If I sound mad, then your starting to hear my message. High ranking officials with IPADs and surround sound systems in their county vehicles so they can watch movies when working off duty jobs is enough. If that's all they can find to spend our tax dollars on and then wonder why during the third quarter they have depleted the budget, it's time for new leadership.

Under budget my ---. If you get approved one budget and get it the first of the year and then beg for additional funds during the third quarter in the rang of 1.2-1.8 million more. How is it that you are under budget when you don't spend the additional amount. If that is your anology, you need a different accountant, maybe one that actually knows how to count.

Yes, Garrison has had to deal with growth, but that does not mean he dealt with it well. In comparison to his counter parts, Garrison, when times were good, he did not plan for the future for the Sheriffs Office and build the proper infrastructure up with digital communication systems to move his officers to a paperless system or even be able to communicate with surrounding counties. No, most officers have to leave the area they patrol to complete their paperwork. Yes, leaving the very area that residence and busienesses have in trusted them to watch. This is one reason alone that crime has continued to rise. Who is watching while the career criminal is watching my business and my family. I believe that is referred to as a soft target, or easy prey.

A true leader plans for the future, embraces technology, and new crime fighting trends. How will these much needed tools and resources be paid for now that revenue is low? Will it be another SPLOST fund for something other counties already have because their leaders have proven their abilities to plan better. Having to prove that you can do a better job than the last guy is good for the community, it gives you a way of truly measuring progress while doing it for less. Friendly competition in the private sector keeps cost down and costomer satisfaction up. If you then don't deliver, your business goes under. That is why you want someone to come in an produce better and more results while spending less money. It can be done, we as a community have just excepted for two decades that it was being done. Only when another company (candidate) started looking at the books and realizing that in fact it could be done more effectively while be for efficiently. Why does that scare Garrison? He should want better for the community, to put others before yourself, now that's noble and no one could ever fault a true leader for excepting that the system has out grown their ability.

What I have notice more recently is voters asking why do we need things. Most of the time the answer is easy. Those are wants not needs. If not, then explain why we pay 15 thousand more for a vehicle for a commander than a patrol officer. The officer is the one working traffic incidents, responding lights and sirens to crimes in progress. So why do these paper pushing command staff need big, black SUV's when for 90% of their day is spent in a office sucking up the AC. What is wrong with driving the same vehicle that the officers do, actually staff doesn't need the big v8 engines, they can actual drive more fuel efficient cars if they even need a tax payer vehicle. When I drive to work, I have to pay for my gas not my employer. Why do we get stuck picking up the tab.

Why do these commanders need IPAD's when most patrol officers in Cherokee county do not have them in their cars but actually need them versus wanting them. These are tools needed for the job once again to be for efficient. Remember, if we don't ask why, and bring these and more questions to light, then our community will never know. Big government does not want you to ask questions just except what they are doing is for the best. Government will always ask us to flip the bill for wants versus needs. In other words, can we afford 4 more years of spending without getting the product we paid for and need versus want. Help decrease crime in our community, help reduce wasteful spending in our local government, start asking, why? Maybe during a heated election, just maybe we can start get answers versus, "sorry, Garrison is out playing tennis, can I take a messag."

"Can I take a message." I tired and mad as____ that is what I get when I call for answers.

People, they work for us, let's hold our elected officials accountable. Let's remind them what the job description is and if they can't deliver, let's get rid of them. There is always someone else hungrier that is willing to make the right decisions, and able to separate needs from wants.

I say let's do that now. Stop telling me things are better now than 20 years ago. Heck, you've had 20 years, I would hope the hundreds of millions you've spent during your rain gave me a little better of quality of life. I think things can always be better, and until we hold our elected officials accountable, we will have to except what we are told to like.

As for Chief Ken Ball telling us what we are to like! I say leave the voting to us

We do not have to play politics like you do. I can not be fired by any of your puppeteers, but I understand you have mouths to feed. I just caution you about the arena you are playing in. Keep leading your office, that's all your employees want, "a good leader." As do the good men and women of the Cherokee County Sheriff's Office.

Remember, if you want change, just change the top and watch the trickle affect happen. When companies are not performing like they should, a change is made at the top until the outcome is much more favorable.

We are the stock holders of Cherokee County government. The CEO works for us, not his own personal pleasure as he would lead us to believe. I say time for change and there is no time like the present. Vote July 31st, let's take back our community!

Sorry for the rant, I'm mad as heck!

a previous poster named BO finally said it. ''The black balloon represents a black head". Now I will ask this again. Sheriff, Chief, Mayor we know you are okay with the costume. What are your feelings about the balloon? Was that immaturity or was that a lack of moral concience? Consider this, the power of office and the comfort of position can undermine whatever judgement one already has. I think we all should try to forgive. However forgetting is something else.

Good luck, I doubt you wii get an answer to a valid question. The balloon/ head clearly reenforces the hated Garrison has.

You know what I find interesting, is the fact I watch a clip about Garrison's response about someone sending a message to David Waters by shooting two arrows into one of his 4x8 signs. Garrison laught and said its just politics. At know time did David Waters blame Garrison for the act. David Waters merely said he was concern about the message being sent. So Garrison now has to answer to his KKK photos that channel 2 said were brought by the person who took the photos but Garrison spends half his time blaming David Waters for Garrisons own actions. Garrison actually said David Waters was hurting Garrisons family with this. Hello, you did this, David Waters was not at the party swearing a Klan suit, if he wa, please through him under the bus. I also think the public has the right to know who the other person was in that photo.

I think most of you need a better education. Learn to spell before you embarass yourselves. Do you know how to use spellcheck?
As far as the KKK. "costume".......I have a good friend who's husband is NOT a member of this group, however he does have a Kluxmans costume for Halloween.
I have dressed as a hooker on Halloween in the past, and can assure you I am NOT a hooker!
I will be voting for Garrison!

Garrison is corrupt beyond just good 'ol boy corruption. He stood by and allowed Preston Peavy and other crooked cops to manufacture guilt for a crime they new I did not commit. Search Nightmare in Georgia. Also search Kerry Walker Story.

The chief law enforcement serves as the moral and ethical compass of every community in America. The Sheriff failed to disclose to the public this so-called indiscretion. If the public was previously aware of this type of behavior he would not have been elected. The Sheriff and should resign.

Oh know, You all need a LIFE. Really?? If you don't want to vote for the man DON'T, if you do, so be it.Guess what, nothing else really matters except your VOTE!!!!! I again, think it was a "Costume" bu,t you still have to pay for your stupit mistakes.

As for the letter written by the Chief of Police of Holly Springs, this is just another example of cronyism in the county. I love how when politicians get in trouble it is called a youthful indiscretion which is an excuse for their lack of ethical behavior. The ony person to blame is the Sheriff...so stopping making excuses for him.

Rico I think he was referring to the photo as unethical.

As far as professional ethics goes my concerns would be: 1. Was the photo taken on duty? 2. Does he have a professional history of treating "people of color" differently than white people? and 3. Was that photo ever used as leverage against him to obtain political favors?

Urban Definition of Stud - basicly a badass. Everyone looks up to them and wants to"get We wants to ge with him.

Mad as Heck you are all over the place on your posts. It is very easy to sling your nasty talk behind a screen name instead of your real name. But reading thru your posts, and seeing some of your posts under your real name on another blog, you should probably add another d to the MADD part. But why don't you and some of your other Waters supporters post some answers why your choice is running a DUI school and using his deputies to teach in it after the DUI schools are mandated by a Forsyth County Judge? Seems they make the arrest, send them to court, fine them, and then make them pay big bucks to go to his school. Not just mere allegations look it up at www.operation21.com and see who is listed as the owners of this mandated school is and what they charge. And you want this kind of stuff in Cherokee County? Yes you probably do MADD.

Roger=KKK fans want to talk about ethics, what about Roger=KKK having his house foreclosed on in Savannah. Yes times are tough and foreclosure are high but that is due to personal tragedy, job loss, loss of income etc. etc. Roger has not suffered that tragedy. His salary is the same, his wife’s the same in a questionable job and that Ponzi scheme so called charity he has is still active and sucking in money.

NO Bo not ever advocating drinking and driving. Just see it as a conflict when a Lt is profiting and paying deputies in his school for those who are sentenced by a Forstyh Judge to a State mandated school as part of their sentence. You really don't see something "funny" about that?

Well I can say Rico has his points and well articulated, not that I agree with him. But I respect his thoughts. Several others as well. We can go on and on but what will not change is our vote for who we wish to vote for on July 31st. So with that said I am finished with this topic just hate to see all the ANGER and as they say in some cases with posts here "You Can't Fix Stupid" and some folks will take what you say out of context or attempt to make a battle. Hope all have a Great 4th, Out of here.

Court mandated classes...get it.driving drunk, court orders a class, fina and sometimes jailtime. Everybody should take that class !

Wow he runs a DUI school mandated by Forsyth County? Isn't he the he the head deputy in charge of stopping underage drinking? Doesn't he work for the sheriff who is an angry violent drunk?http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NmsTcBFWTMI and I thought the fact he stole evidence and was fired from CCSO was good enough not to vote for him.

ignorance must be your middle name, oh wait it is your first.

Good for you standing up for what you believe in and being honest with your people!
The Klan has changed it's about White Pride the same as the Blacks and the Mexicans have and show there pride. I didn't own any slaves? My Daddy, grandaddy or my great Grandaddy didn't own any. Sow why can't we show pride in America as white Proud Men?
I'm with The United Klans of America ( www.theuka.us )
Look at the website and see for yourself or call 1-855-311-1488 EXT 101 don't judge someone till you have walked in there boots.