TOCCOA, Ga. — A new sheriff’s outpost is now open in a Lake Hartwell community, part of a joint effort to curb crime and improve safety in the area.
The Shorewood Property Owners’ Association, in partnership with the Stephens County Sheriff’s Office, held a ribbon-cutting ceremony on Wednesday, April 1, at the entrance to Shorewood Estates.
The lakefront neighborhood, established in the mid-1970s, has seen a rise in criminal activity in recent years, according to Sheriff Rusty Fulbright. Reports have included theft, illegal drug use and distribution, animal neglect, and illegal dumping.
Community leaders turned to the sheriff’s office for help. In response, deputies increased patrols in the area, leading to multiple arrests tied to ongoing criminal activity, officials said.
Since taking office in January 2025, Sheriff Rusty Fulbright and his command staff have also attended neighborhood watch meetings in Shorewood Estates to hear residents’ concerns and strengthen communication.
“What started as a few people expressing their concerns to our deputies has evolved into a community-wide project,” Fulbright said. “We are here to support the Shorewood POA in their efforts to clean up their neighborhood, and a majority of the residents are on board.”
The newly established outpost is designed to give deputies and other law enforcement agencies, including the Stephens County Marshals Office, a visible and consistent presence in the neighborhood.
“With the Board creating this outpost, it allows our deputies and local law enforcement officials to be more visible in the community,” Fulbright said. “This one move shows the dedication this group has for taking back their neighborhood, which has been long-neglected.”
Officials say the outpost represents an ongoing partnership between law enforcement and residents aimed at building stronger relationships and keeping the Shorewood Estates community safe.
“I am proud that our office is working with the Shorewood POA Board of Directors and Stephens County Marshals Office to not only build community relationships but also foster a safer, stronger Shorewood,” Fulbright said.
