POAG EXECUTIVE MINUTES - July 2004:                 

The Executive Committee of the Peace Officers’ Association of Georgia, Inc. held a meeting at 10 A. M., July 21, 2004, at the Holiday Inn, Macon, Georgia.   Committee members attending included President Homer Bryson, Board Members Gary Hill and Jimmy Jones, Secretary-Treasurer John Conley, Attorney Frank Childs and Executive Director Marion Conley.  Vice President Keith Moran, Legislative Chairman Bob Brown, and Chaplain Rick Lanford were unable to attend.  Visitors included: Ken Suddeth, Harry Colbert, III, Mrs. Mary Poole and Dustin Cromer. 

President Homer Bryson called the meeting to order and welcomed all in attendance. 

The invocation was given by Board Member Jimmy Jones with the Pledge to the flag being led by President Homer Bryson. 

Gary Hill made a motion, which was seconded by Jimmy Jones to approve the minutes and financial report from June, 2004.  The motion passed. 

The ten scholarship applications received by the office had been previously mailed to all Committee persons.  A very lengthy discussion followed on choosing the winner of the $1,000 Jimmy Waters Scholarship for 2004.  A decision was finally made by the Committee to award a $1,000 scholarship and two $500.00 scholarships this year.  This decision was made because of the number of highly deserving applicants and also because the Committee felt the Association was in a financial position this year to award the additional $1,000.  However, the Committee wished to point out that the awarding of the additional scholarship this year BY NO MEANS is meant to reflect a continuing trend.  After much discussion, the list was finally narrowed to five finalists with each Committee person writing their 1^st, 2^nd and 3^rd preference.  The $1,000 winner finally became Joshua James Roberts, 3259 Mount Paron Church Road, Social Circle, Georgia 30025. The recipients of a $500.00 scholarship each were Sabrina Dawn Sikes, 219 Azalia Drive, Statesboro, Georgia 30458 and Kristen Leigh Cooley, 2820 Randy Court, Ellenwood, Georgia 30294. The Committee regretted that not all ten applicants could be given scholarships as they were all so deserving.  Jimmy Jones made the motion to award Joshua James Roberts the $1,000 scholarship and Sabrina Dawn Sikes and Kristen Leigh Colley a $500 scholarship each.  This motion was seconded by Gary Hill and passed. 

The next discussion was to choose an Officer of the Year for Meritorious Service and also Valor.  A motion was made by Jimmy Jones, seconded by John Conley and passed to award Director of Homeland Security Bill Hitchens the “Peace Officer of the Year for Meritorious Service”.  The choice of a “Peace Officer of the Year for Valor” was also a difficult decision.  Finally, after much discussion a motion was made by John Conley, seconded by Gary Hill and passed to award two “Peace Officer of the Year for Valor” awards.  One of these awards is to go to Investigator Jimmy Jones, Macon Judicial Circuit District Attorney’s Office and Trooper First Class David Q. Holland, III, Georgia State Patrol. 

            A discussion ensued on active and honorary life memberships.  Jimmy Jones made a motion, John Conley seconded the motion and the motion passed to award active life memberships to Captain Paul Michael Hood, Georgia State Patrol, Marie Kirk of the Department of Natural Resources and Director Vernon Keenan of the Georgia Bureau of Investigation.  Honorary awards are to go to Mike Phillips and Steve Ward of Ingleside Gun Works and Allen Hagan of Pabst Brewery.  An honorary award for Chaplain R. Donald Kiernan was discussed but Monsignor Kiernan was awarded in 1991.  However, the Committee voted to present Monsignor Kiernan with a Lifetime Achievement Award. 

            The Committee decided to once again give the webmaster Mark Revenew a room at the convention as a token of appreciation of his web work for POAG.  In addition, it was decided to give Ranger James McLaughlin with the Department of Natural Resources a free room.  Ranger McLaughlin was injured at G-8 and out of work for some time. 

            Adding an additional Chaplain was discussed.  The Committee felt it would be nice if we have chaplains strategically located throughout the State so that in the event of a death, a chaplain could contact the family.  If any expenses were incurred, the chaplain would be reimbursed by the Association.  This discussion was tabled for a further meeting.   

            The next meeting is scheduled for 1 P. M., August 20, 2004, GBI Crime Lab in Cleveland located off U. S. Highway 129. 

            John Conley made a motion to adjourn to lunch.  The motion was seconded by Gary Hill and passed.