Sheriff's Message

Search activities that include the use of dogs and divers seeking to locate the body Gary Jones in Lake Oconee have now been suspended until further notice.  

DNR officers and Putnam County Sheriff's Deputies will continue to conduct daily shoreline searches and if weather conditions improve search dogs will be deployed again in the near future.

This has been an extensive 22-day search conducted by officers from the Georgia DNR, Georgia State Patrol, and Putnam County Sheriff's Office.  We were assisted by numerous civilian search and rescue organizations, staff and other individuals associated with Westminster Schools, and many civilian fisherman and residents from Lake Oconee and Lake Sinclair.  Divers and dog handlers from all over Georgia, Florida, and South Carolina came here to help us and all came as volunteers.

We have deployed aircraft, all available underwater technological devices, and professional divers in our efforts.  I cannot remember such an extensive use of government and civilian personnel and resources for an incident such as this on Lakes Oconee and Sinclair in the last 40 years.

Lastly, until I can formulate a more accurate list to identify everyone, please let me express my gratitude to all who have worked tirelessly for the last 3 weeks in this difficult endeavor.  I also want to express thanks to the many people and businesses who graciously brought food and drinks for everyone.  It was most welcome and makes me very proud of our community.

HRS

Sheriff Howard R. Sills            

Putnam County, Georgia

111 Ridley Drive

P. O. Box 3637

Eatonton, Georgia 31024           

(706)485-8557

(706)485-4840 fax

 

Archives