The Dougherty County Sheriff’s Office is increasing security to address downtown safety concerns

ALBANY – Anyone who spends a lot of time in downtown Albany is probably used to a bit of oddity: from a few eccentric personalities to con artists, some of whom can be a bit pushy.

And once, a Dougherty County employee witnessed a couple bonding on a picnic table in a parking garage next to the Government Center.

The two parking decks that flank the government center have also been a cause for concern in recent months, with some employees feeling threatened by people there.

“We had some issues with our parking decks,” said Dougherty County Sheriff Kevin Sproul. “The auditors come in and try to shake people up.”

The so-called “First Amendment Auditors” are a fixture on YouTube, TicToc and other social media sites that show videos that YouTubers film in public areas. The activity is legal and protected by law, hence the First Amendment, but some of the videos show officials and government employees unaccustomed to the activity reacting negatively, which appears to be the intent of the videos’ creators.

“We also had some homeless people threatening women and asking for money,” Sproul said. “We’re trying to be proactive.”

Assistant County Administrator Barry Brooks, who was serving as interim county administrator, raised the issue during a Dougherty County Commission meeting earlier this year.

Activities can range from activities that make employees and visitors feel unsafe to activities that pose a health risk.

“Some people also used the stairwells as restrooms,” Brooks said. “We have people who have been spoken to aggressively. There were times when they could be very aggressive. I just don’t want people to be…harassed.”

To address the issue, the sheriff’s office has stationed a deputy in the lobby of the government center to increase security.

“Working with the sheriff and the city, we decided we would put the (deputy) here,” Brooks said. “I believe we have a responsibility to ensure the safety of our employees and the public entering the building to conduct business.”

The deputy on duty will provide protection for the nearby tax office and conduct patrols on the parking deck and around the building throughout the day, Sproul said.

Plans call for expanding the deputy’s reach with a small vehicle that will allow it to patrol a larger portion of downtown, including Riverfront Park.

“Downtown should be a place where people can bring their families,” Sproul said.