I am pleased to introduce the first issue of the The Sheriff's Line. The Greene County Sheriff's Office exists to protect and serve the people of the community with a standard of excellence. Our job is to not only protect and serve, but also keep our community updated on any recent information pertaining to the law. For that very reason, it is my goal that this monthly newsletter will keep everyone up to date on issues involving our county. Furthermore, it is my hope that this newsletter will allow for residents to become more familiar with the Greene County Sheriff's Office.

Each edition of the newsletter will include a discussion of new policies, information regarding criminal activity, content related to the safety of our community and a section featuring an honored man of the force.

Because our mission is centered on serving our community, it is our privilege to keep you informed and on alert.

I consider it an honor to be a part of this agency. The entire Greene County Sheriff's Office is dedicated to making Greene County a safe and pleasant place to live, work and play. We look forward to sharing our news with you, the community.

Thank you,

Sheriff Chris Houston 

It's not everyday that an average traffic violation turns into a drug bust. However, on September 19 Greene County Sheriff's Office deputies discovered two bales of marijuana and liquid codeine inside a suspect's vehicle. 

The Dodge Charger was pulled over on Interstate 20 for a traffic infraction. When the deputy made contact with the unlicensed driver he noticed a very strong odor of air freshener coming from inside the vehicle. After questioning the passengers and then receiving conflicting stories about their traveling plans, the deputy asked for consent to search the vehicle. 

When the driver refused to give a yes or no answer to the deputy's request to search the vehicle, another deputy with K-9 Igor was called to the scene. The occupants were then removed from the vehicle allowing the K-9 Igor to conduct a free air sniff. The outcome of the air sniff led to a positive odor response for the presence of illegal drugs.  After searching the vehicle, the deputies found two large bales of marijuana with an approximate weight of 24 pounds and approximately 32 ounces of liquid codeine.

Greene County Sheriff's Office Deputies arrested Jovan Shamel Ladson, Durante Sylvester Jackson and Elrico Antwan Jackson for the trafficking of marijuana and liquid codeine. Ladson, the driver, was also charged with driving with a suspended license. 

Codeine, an opioid used to treat pain, works on the part of the brain that produces addicting pleasure. Liquid codeine can be taken alone or mixed into drinks. Parents need to be aware of this powerful addictive drug. There is a growing trend among young kids to create liquid codeine concoctions made up of everyday items found in refrigerators and medicine cabinets. 

Did you know that every two hours somewhere in the United States a vehicle and a train collide at crossing intersections? The average train moving at 55 miles per hour requires at least a mile or more to reach a stop. 

CSX Corporation is a leading transportation supplier with businesses that provide rail-based transportation services. The CSX transportation network reaches over 21,000 miles and into over 20 states. Millions of Americans live in the CSX service territory, which means that there are 5.3 million new drivers every year inside the service territory alone. 

CSX is dedicated to improving the safety of grade crossings, providing emergency training for local fire, police and emergency response personnel.  Earlier this month, the Greene County Sheriff's Office completed this training with CSX on Grade Crossing Collision Investigations. The training provided the Greene County Sheriff's Office with a better knowledge of handling a grade crossing emergency.