Augusta, GA. (WRDW / WAGT) – Business owners in downtown Augusta shared security problems with the Richmond County Sheriff Office on Thursday.
The sheriff’s office says that they increase deputies from the region, especially at night to ensure family safety.
The objective is to collaborate with these business owners.
The Brantley sheriff says that having these face-to-face conversations is essential when it comes to ensuring the safety of those who live, work and visit the city center.
When you talk about businesses – houses – apartments – these are places that people are proud.
“In the end, if you take good care of your home and have a presence in your home, your house will be respected,” said Ernest Jones, CEO of Realty One Group Visionarries.
Many consider the city center of Augusta as a house.
“And I think that is what the Richmond County authorities do, they take and have a presence in the city center, so this space will be respected,” said Jones.
Having face -to -face conversations is a start.
“And also to let them know that we want to know when there are concerns and ensure that we hear them and their concerns are satisfied with the actions,” said Sheriff Brantley.
This is something that many business owners have asked for several years.
“The change is already good with everything else, it just takes time. So really it’s just. I can’t wait to know how it is, when everything goes and smoke sets in, because it’s still new. Five months in the year, it’s always new. In a year, in two years, I mean, the loft.
Security is the key to prospering the city center. “As I said, we still have certain things that we have to modify and work to continue to make the city center safer and make people want to come and enjoy what we have to offer in the city center,” said Brantley.
The downtown safety plan is already in place.
During the day, they have community security agents to observe and report any potential problem while helping business owners meet their needs.
At night, the sheriff says that they have one deputy by block on foot, they also have a mixture of marked and not marked cars.
However, he says they are ready to add more staff if necessary, especially since summer events soon start.
“We will have mobile command staff who will be available who deals with major events and event staff,” said Brantley. “It will be a multitude of suppression of traffic crime and various specialized units working in the region to ensure that we have sufficient coverage to be able to deal with any problem that could arise.”
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