I first met J.B. when he was hired on as a jailer. J.B. was just out of high school and eighteen when he became a jailer. I had now been working for the Sheriff for a year. I was radio operator for six months and a jailer for eight months or so when he was hired on.

Now you might wonder how an 18-year-old young man could hop right from high school into a jailer of inmates. Always remember that a “County Sheriff” is an elected position that the residents of the county elect through voting.

It just so happens that J.B.’s family owned a motel and restaurant, amongst other ventures, in Douglas County, Georgia. To run for and be elected Sheriff took money for a campaign and his family had money. Our first run-in was when there was a patrol opening that we both put in for. Many employees said that J.B. would get the road spot because of who he was and because of his family. I felt confident that he wouldn’t due to seniority rules in place for experienced employees. As the next in line, I was sure that I would be promoted.

When J.B. arrived, I found him to be a quiet and sullen person. In the winter of 1980-81, a road deputy position became available. Deputy D. Maddox went to work for the Carrolton Police Department. D. Maddox would later become the Police Chief of Villa Rica, Georgia. I continued all previous ride-a-longs which included Officer D. Maddox in Carrollton, Georgia.

I had the training of radio along with jail experience and had a year and a half under my belt of employment. I had been on ride-a-longs with other shift’s deputies earning praise and trust from my peers. In fact, I had to assume the paperwork filing, feeding, visitation, medicine storage, etc. of the Sergeant Chief Jailer at that time. Our Chief Jailer was Sgt. George G. He was an elderly man, heavy-set and frail with sugar problems. He left work many times sick after only working half days or even calling out sick altogether. I think this was due to the inmate Nathan T. After my Inter-office suspension, it was announced that J.B. would be our new Road Deputy.

In the new year of 1981, J.B. was now around 19 years old and placed on night shift patrol. I, in the summer of 1981, was given a Road Deputy position on a day shift patrol unit. My soon-to-be good friend Deputy Allen W. was hired on straight away as a deputy sheriff the same day to fill another vacancy on our day shift. Allen was my first “partner.” I believe Deputy Allen W. became only the second African American to be hired as Deputy Sheriff by the Douglas County Sheriff’s Office since its establishment. So that would mean Dep. T. Pounds was the first African American to be sworn in as a Deputy Sheriff of Douglas County, Georgia by Sheriff Earl D. Lee.

(Dep. T. Pounds would later become the first African American to be elected as “Sheriff” of Douglas County Georgia 2016).