Operations

Colonel Milton Beck, Division Commander

Major John Koehler, MCS Narcotics Commander
Major Thomas Palmer, Court Security Commander
Major Thomas O'Connor, Field Operations Day Watch Commander
Major JR Walraven, Field Operations Evening/Morning Watch Commander

As Chief Investigator, Colonel Beck is third in command of one of the largest Sheriff's Offices in the state and is responsible for the day to day operations of Field and Court Services as well as Investigations. Beck began his employment with the Cobb County Sheriff's Office in 1989 as a Deputy Sheriff. Throughout his career, he has held numerous positions and has been assigned to every division of the Sheriff's Office includding MCS Narcotics Unit, the Cobb County Adult Detention Facilities, Operations, and the Executive Office. In 2003, Beck was promoted to the rank of Major and was the Assistant Division Commander for Inspectional Services.

Beck is a 1983 graduate of Osborne High School and attended WEstern Carolina University on an atheletic scholarship where he earned a BS degree in Management. Beck graduated Leadership Cobb in 2003 and is a 2001 graduate of Cobb County's Excel Management Program. Beck is a graduate of the Honorary Commander's Class.

The Operations Division is composed of several sections, these are:

Warrant Section

Civil Section

Fugitive

Forgery

Juvenile Apprehension

Domestic Violence Section

Communications

Court Security

Transport Section

MCS Narcotics Unit

Tactical Operations

The primary responsibility of the Warrant Section is the processing and execution of criminal arrest warrants, civil processes and mental health transports. Additional duties often include funeral escorts, inmate compassionate visits and assisting other law enforcement agencies in and around Cobb County.

In an average year, the Cobb County Sheriff’s Office Warrant Section receives over 25,000 criminal warrants. When a criminal warrant is received in the Warrant Section an immediate process begins towards the execution of the warrant. This process includes recording the warrant in the Sheriff’s Office computer data base, identifying the suspect, checking the criminal history of the suspect and placing the wanted person on the National Crime Information Center (NCIC) database. Once this process has been completed by civilian personnel, the warrant is forwarded to uniform deputies or to the Fugitive Section where attempts are made to locate and apprehend the wanted person.

The service of Criminal Warrants is one the most challenging and hazardous duties in law enforcement today since the offender in typically aware that charges are pending and jail in his next destination. In 2002 this section received approximately 27,689 new criminal warrants.

A typical day for a warrant deputy includes pursuing leads, gathering information, searching houses or businesses, and ultimately affecting the arrest of wanted individuals. Often volatile and unpredictable situations develop resulting in the individual trying to resist or escape. It is not uncommon for warrant deputies to have to travel throughout the State and sometimes to neighboring states to pick up individuals who are wanted by Cobb County.

This section also works closely with local Mental Health Care facilities and the courts in locating, apprehending and safely transporting mentally ill or drug/alcohol dependant persons, determined by the Probate Court or a Doctor to be in need of treatment, to emergency receiving facilities throughout the state for treatment. These individuals are sometimes unpredictable and situations can become violent and potentially dangerous very quickly.

These uniform deputies also enforce Georgia traffic laws by issuing traffic citations and making arrests when necessary.

Sheriff's Sex Offender Registry

The Civil Section is tasked with the responsibility of preparing and serving civil processes received from the Courts of Cobb County, as well as other jurisdictions. In addition to process service, this section executes court orders that include the completion of Evictions, Writs of Possession and the collection of other judgments issued by the courts.

Sheriff's Fee Schedule
Civil FAQ
Sheriff and Marshal Sales
Fieri Facias Information Sheet
Eviction Services

This section is staffed by plain clothed investigators whose primary job is to apprehend known fugitives who attempt to hide in and around Cobb County. Additionally, these investigators work closely with law enforcement agencies throughout the country to locate and apprehend fugitives wanted on Cobb County charges. In 2002, 1,950 new cases were received and investigated, with some 1128 offenders apprehended.

In addition to its local efforts, members of the fugitive section work with a multi-jurisdictional task force to apprehend fugitives throughout the metro Atlanta area. This effort in coordinated under the jurisdiction of the United States Marshals Service.

Most Wanted

The Forgery/Fraud Section is charged with the responsibility of investigating “white collar” crimes. Such offenses include, but are not limited to, forgery, fraud, identity theft, embezzlement and felony bad checks. Due to the technical complexity of these offenses, the investigators must be highly trained and experienced. During 2003, the Forgery/Fraud Section received 4,557 new cases. Suspected forgery, fraud or identity thefts can be reported by calling 770-499-4752.

Identity Theft Brochure
Bad Checks

Created in 1997 through a federal grant, this section focuses its efforts on the service of domestic violence warrants and temporary protective orders. Domestic violence incidents, unfortunately, have been increasing at an alarming rate. These offenses are very volatile and dangerous both for the individuals involved and for the law enforcement officers who intervene. Domestic Violence Investigators are specially trained to deal with the situation they encounter and to provide assistance to the victims of these offenses.

In 2002 the Domestic Violence Section received 2,435 Temporary Protective Orders for service, 444 of which required eviction of one or more involved individuals. For further information on domestic violence and how the courts can assist victims call 770-499-4677. Read More...

The Communication Section falls under the supervision of the Field Operations Unit. It is the lifeline of sworn Sheriff’s Office personnel. The Communication Room is staffed 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. The Radio operator is the primary communication link between the main Operations office and the deputies in the field. He/she has the capability to monitor and communicate with other county and municipal agencies. This is a valuable asset when trying to coordinate assistance and the delivery of critical services with other agencies in the area.

In addition to the normal communications duties, the dispatcher is responsible for monitoring the NCIC computer link, checking vehicle registrations and assisting deputies in identifying wanted persons. The operator is also responsible for entering, modifying and removing information from the National Crime Information System.

In 2002, four Harley Davidson law enforcement motorcycles were added to the Sheriff’s Office vehicle fleet. Due to the level of traffic congestion in Cobb County, motorcycles were considered a viable alternative to squad cars in the performance of duties such as funeral escorts, traffic control, routine patrol, and service of civil process. Read More...

By Georgia Statute (O.C.G.A. 15-16-10 (a)(2) the Sheriff is responsible for the security of the Cobb County Court Facilities. Sheriff’s Deputies, Security Control Technicians, and Bailiffs assigned to the Court Services Section of the Cobb County Sheriff’s Office insure the security of the Cobb County Court Facilities twenty-four hours a day, seven days a week. Read More...

The Transport Section is responsible for the safe and secure transportation of inmates incarcerated in the Cobb County detention facilities. Typical destinations include the county courts, medical facilities and other detention and correctional facilities throughout the county and state. In 2002, over 28,000 Cobb County inmates were transported more than 200,000 total miles. Read More...

The Sheriffs Office has a section dedicated to locating and detaining runaways and juvenile fugitives. Apprehending these youthful offenders is a high priority, not only due to the offense involved but also because of the danger they face as possible victims of adult offenders. In 2002 this unit received 481 juvenile arrest warrants and was successful in locating 517 juveniles.

The Marietta/Cobb/Smyrna (MCS) Narcotics & Intelligence Unit is a multi-jurisdictional task force formed in 1980 and commanded by a Major from the Cobb County Sheriff’s Office, with a primary mission of drug interdiction within Cobb County. Initially, the unit was comprised of personnel from the Cobb County Sheriff’s Office, Marietta Police Department, Cobb County Police Department, Smyrna Police Department and the Cobb County District Attorney’s Office to bring the necessary manpower and resources together in a cooperative effort to bring drug dealers before the criminal justice system.

In 2001, the Unit added personnel from the Acworth Police Department, Kennesaw Police Department and the Georgia National Guard. The agencies work together in a cumulative effort to stem the flow of illegal substances, organized crime and vice crimes within our community. Read More...

The Cobb County Sheriff's Office Tactical Operations Unit is a specialized, highly trained team of deputies prepared for deployment in situations that require the use of special tactics and equipment. Typical situations in which this unit is deployed include hostages or barricaded suspects, high-risk warrant service, security for high-risk court trials, dignitary protection, detention facility disorders, drug related search warrants, high-risk prisoner transports and a variety of other scenarios that are outside the realm of normal law enforcement capabilities. Read More... .

The Sheriff’s Office maintains canines of various disciplines including narcotics detection, explosives detection and tracking. The canines are utilized by specially trained and certified handlers under the command of the Tactical Team Commander. Read More... .

In 1998, a handful of dedicated deputies who shared a love of horses, volunteered their time, horses and expertise to organize the Mounted Patrol Unit. This Unit has grown to ten members and each has attended rigorous State certification training courses. In addition, each member and their horse receive in excess of 100 training hours each year.

The Mounted Patrol Unit assists in searches for lost persons, searches for wanted suspects or escaped prisoners, works crowd control details, and makes numerous personal appearances each year. Read More...

Resources 

Directions to the Superior Court

Eviction Companies

Sheriff Sales

Contact Information 
Lieutenant Colonel Beck
Chief Investigator
Cobb County Sheriff's Office
185 Roswell Street
Marietta, GA 30060

Telephone: (770) 499-4650
Email:Milton..Beck@CobbCounty.org