This month in my article I would like to touch base a little bit about the Mannequin Challenge.  I believe most of the local papers are doing their own article on this but the 5C Coalition (Clayton County Community Collaboration Council) spent the last three months putting together a Mannequin Challenge for Clayton County.  The 5C is a group of community members located in Clayton County working together to encourage awareness surrounding alcohol, tobacco and other drugs that prevent community members from living their lives to the fullest.  Participants are from every community and town in our county. 

A mannequin challenge is viral Internet video trend where people remain frozen in action like mannequins while a moving camera films them, usually with a song playing in the background.  The challenge also depicts a story and in the 5C video a story of underage kids drinking alcohol followed by a car wreck and fatality.  I encourage you all to please take a look at it.  It already has 852,000 hits on the 5C Facebook page and 32,000 hits on You Tube.  You can view this video at You Tube by searching;   “Party your life away mannequin challenge”  If you have questions or may be interested in the 5C program please look at their website at; www.claytoncountycccweebly.com

This week my department is participating in their annual spring firearms qualification.  We have a use of force policy in place at the Clayton County Sheriff’s Office.  All such training will include, but not be limited to, a review of our department policy on the use of deadly force, legal requirements, moral responsibilities of carrying a firearms and firearm safety.  In addition each member must demonstrate proficiency with any firearms to be used by that member before certification.  According to state code deputies must shoot 80% efficiency once a year.  This office offers a spring and fall qualification and training course to keep our officers efficient.  Firearms include their sidearm pistols, some shotguns, and rifles.  We do offer other yearly trainings for Taser, defensive tactics, chemical munitions, ASP etc.

And if you have any questions or comments, feel free to contact me anytime, e-mail me at mtschirgi@claytoncountyia.gov, or stop by to see me.

Thanks and be safe,

Sheriff Mike Tschirgi