Is Lumpkin County’s Newest Deputy the Target of Unfair Criticism by a Social Media Group?
News July 19, 2017
Sheriff Stacy Jarrard
DAHLONEGA, Ga. – For a law enforcement officer who has never been accused of any criminal misconduct, never been the subject of any disciplinary action and who had a clean personnel file when he was hired by the Lumpkin County Sheriff’s Office last month, Marc Lofton has attracted a lot of criticism, fairly or unfairly.
Lofton came to Lumpkin County from Statham where he worked as a police officer. Two years ago, after a social media group calling itself “Statham Concerned Citizens,” began complaining about the Statham Police Department, the Prosecuting Attorney’s Council of Georgia found that Lofton made “significant errors in several of the DUI-Drug investigations.”
IMPORTANT NOTE: They did not say he had committed a crime. They said he made “significant errors.” Lofton left the Statham Police Department in good standing and he applied for the job in Lumpkin County.
Now, with the aid of CBS46, “Statham Concerned Citizens” appears to be stalking the officer all the way to Dahlonega.
Today, Lumpkin County Sheriff Stacy Jarrard issued the following statement:
“Regarding Deputy Marc Lofton. He was hired by this Agency on 06/26/2017. As part of our hiring process a background investigation, interview board, and voice stress analysis test was completed. Mr. Lofton successfully passed all of these processes. We are aware of everything CBS NEWS 46 has reported. We are also aware, as I am sure you are, that Mr. Lofton has never been indicted for any criminal acts.
“Statham Police Department’s Chief has never seen fit to discipline Mr. Lofton for anything whatsoever. The District Attorney’s Office completed an investigation on Mr. Lofton and they did not see any criminal act. The Prosecuting Attorney’s Council (PAC) also investigated Mr. Lofton and did not see any criminal acts being committed. However, they did recommend additional training.
“Mr. Lofton has since completed and passed the additional training recommended by PAC. Mr. Lofton has an active Peace Officer certification through Georgia’s Peace Officer’s Standard and Training Council (P.O.S.T.). Mr. Lofton does not have any active P.O.S.T. investigations, nor has he ever. Additionally, a Lead DUI Standardized Field Sobriety Training (SFST), Advanced Roadside Impaired Driving (ARIDE), and Drug Recognition Expert Instructor was consulted regarding Mr. Lofton.
“He also stated he did not see any wrong doing by Mr. Lofton and that Mr. Lofton had excelled in his classes which were recommended by PAC. For the above listed reasons, Mr. Lofton was found to be eligible for hire and subsequently hired. As with all newly hired employees, Mr. Lofton will complete our Field Training Program and he will be closely monitored during his one year probation with our Agency.”
Thus far, no other Atlanta media outlet has reported this story. Fake news?
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Lofton was later fired by the Lumpkin County Sheriff.