Sheriff plans to pursue training deputies in deportation program

By Camie Young
Gwinnett Daily post
Senior Writer

LAWRENCEVILLE – Sheriff Butch Conway plans to train his deputies to begin deportation proceedings for illegal immigrants.

Conway, who has been in a public battle with Chairman Charles Bannister over the proposal for weeks, said he would like to start training 18 deputies in July, if he can hire enough personnel to fully staff the jail and get funding from commissioners.

Conway made a presentation on the plan Monday but did not discuss it with the media until Bannister issued a press release saying he would seek support from other commissioners to pressure the sheriff into the federal program.

“I want to do it, and I think we can do it with 18 (deputies),” Conway said, adding that he was furious Bannister once again brought the issue to the media before talking to him about it. “If Mr. Bannister will put his money where his mouth is, I think we can get this going in the next few months.”

Conway said he believed the program would cost between $2 and $3 million in 2008, but its implementation hinges on relief of the jail’s overcrowded conditions. To qualify, the jail must meet federal standards, which include not having inmates sleep on mats on the floor.

After another public battle with Bannister over pay disparity between deputies and police officers, deputy salaries were raised in January, and Conway said he has had a lot more luck at hiring new staffers. He said he hopes to have the county’s $75 million jail tower expansion completely opened by July.

HERE.