Originally published March 16, 2009.
The Muscogee County Junior Marshal Program has been in the spotlight the last three weeks because of a Georgia Bureau of Investigation inquiry.
As the GBI looks into whether two family members of U.S. Rep. Sanford Bishop — who secured more than $136,000 in federal grants to help fund the program — actually worked there, some Muscogee County residents are wondering what the Junior Marshal Program is and what it does.
The mentoring program, started by Marshal Greg Countryman after his election five years ago, gives boys and girls direction and motivation before they enter high school. It continues to operate in the city’s public middle schools.
Countryman declined numerous interview requests last week to talk in detail about the program, its focus and its employees.
‘Back on track’
The Junior Marshal Program works with seventh- and eighth-graders in most of the 12 Muscogee County School District middle schools. Richards Middle School has opted out of the program the past two years because of scheduling conflicts.
Now headquartered in a $500-per-month rented office at 1300 Wynnton Road, it was moved from the Columbus Government Center because the marshal’s eighth-floor office was too crowded, Countryman said.
Two full-time employees are dedicated to the program. Deputy Wilbert L. Williams, a sworn officer, is the director, and William Mayo, retired from the Army, works with students in the Muscogee County School District middle schools.
Williams is paid from the Marshal’s Office operating budget. Mayo is paid from the Junior Marshal’s Program budget.
“We look for students who need a little help,” Mayo said. “Some may have behavior problems, but we don’t take the real bad kid or the straight-A kid.”
The schools identify 10 students each, five seventh-graders and five eighth-graders. That puts more than 100 kids in the program, which runs on the school-year calendar.
“Sometimes kids just get out of whack, but it doesn’t take a lot to get them back on track,” Mayo said.
A representative from the program goes into each school twice a month and meets with the kids in a group setting. One Saturday a month, all of the kids in the program come together for a program, usually at the Government Center.
“We have judges, leaders in the community talk to them,” Mayo said. “They tell them different things about why leadership and education are important.
After interviewing with the Ledger-Enquirer last week, Mayo said he should not have talked to a reporter because he was on duty. Williams declined an interview request.
Funding
Finances for the program are run through the city’s general fund account, but it is funded by a combination of public and private funds.
The program is operating this year under a $111,794 federal grant from the U.S. Department of Justice. It received $24,681 in federal funds for 2007 and no federal money in 2008.
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