Lumpkin County Sheriff

Who is "Kiki" Camarena?
Enrique "Kiki" Camarena was born in Mexicali, Mexico in 1947, but grew up in California where he joined the Untied States Marine Corp. After his honorable service to our country, Kiki became a police officer and in 1974 a Special Agent with the Drug Enforcement Administration. He excelled as a DEA agent and was later assigned to a field office in Guadalajara, Mexico. In 1985 after four and a half years of closing-in on the country's largest multi-billion dollar Marijuana and Cocaine trafficking cartel, Kiki was kidnapped on the street as his wife watched in horror. Kiki's body was found 26 days later. Special Agent Kiki Camarena gave his life in the fight to keep illegal narcotics from entering our country, our community and reaching our children.
After his death Congressman, Duncan Hunter and an old friend worked with Kiki's high school In California to honor his memory by wearing red ribbons and pledging to remain drug free. The entire state responded and soon President Ronald Reagan supported this noble effort which began to spread over our country. Today the last week in October is known as Red Ribbon Week, where schools and communities all over the world take that same pledge to lead drug free lives.
Sometimes all a child needs is for an adult to set limits or say "hey don't go there". Children are searching for answers. They are continually watching what we, as adults, do and say. Let's set the right example and give them a cleat direction on the safest and best path in life. Let Dahlonega and Lumpkin County be seen as a community that stands firm on the position that we will not allow illegal narcotics to ruin the lives of our friends and loved ones.
This year on October 23-31st , the Lumpkin County Sheriff's Office will be working in conjunction with our school system and the Citizen's Meth Task Force to honors S/A Camarena by pledging to stay drug free. During this week all Sheriff's office vehicles will display a red ribbon magnet imprinted with " Drug Free Dahlonega". School Resource Officers will work with teachers to present red ribbon bracelets to Elementary and Middle School students. The students will have the opportunity to take that same pledge to live a drug free life.
I encourage every citizen to display red ribbons on their person or their car during the week long celebration. If you would like to help show your support for a Drug Free Dahlonega, stop by the Sheriff's Office and we will provide you with a red ribbon to tie to your car antenna.
Together we can continue to teach our children about the devastation illegal narcotics have on our families. Just by pledging to be Drug Free we can make a difference.
Mark T. McClure
Sheriff