It’s one thing to hear about the abuse of power by politicians, but it’s a whole different story when it’s caught on camera—and that’s exactly what we have here with Cobb County Sheriff Craig Owens. You can’t make this stuff up: a sheriff—an elected official, mind you—dispatching his own deputies to handle a personal gripe over a fast-food order? This goes beyond petty. It’s a blatant misuse of power, and every taxpayer in Cobb County should be furious. Let’s break this down.
Sheriff Owens wasn’t satisfied with a Whopper order from Burger King. They didn’t get it right, and instead of, like the rest of us, maybe walking back in or shrugging it off, he called in the cavalry. Three—yes, three—deputies were sent to that Burger King, not to protect the public, but to soothe the sheriff’s bruised ego. Owens demanded the names of the restaurant’s owner and manager, supposedly to file a “complaint.” Really? A complaint requires three law enforcement officers?
Now, think about this: Cobb County deputies have real jobs to do. They’re supposed to be out there keeping the community safe, responding to emergencies, and dealing with serious threats. But instead, they were wasting time because the sheriff couldn’t get his burger order right. The sheriff, sitting in his truck, sent the deputies to do his dirty work, as if the full force of the county’s resources is at his personal disposal. It’s ridiculous.
The bodycam footage says it all. The workers were so spooked by the over-the-top presence of law enforcement that they locked the doors. They had no idea what was happening—these are fast-food workers, young people, probably just trying to do their jobs. They didn’t know this was all because someone didn’t get their Whopper “cut in half, no mayo.” They probably thought a real crime was going on.
What’s worse is how Owens reacted when told the employees were scared. Did he care? Did he apologize? No, he laughed it off. The sheriff thought this was a joke, even asking the deputies, “You didn’t tell them who I was, did you?” The arrogance is off the charts. Sheriff Owens clearly believes he’s above everyone else, that the rules don’t apply to him.
Then, when this whole thing was exposed—thanks to his election opponent—Owens tries to spin it, claiming this was just a “business dispute” any citizen would file. Nice try, Sheriff. Most of us don’t get a personal police escort to Burger King when we have a complaint. This is a textbook case of intimidation. These deputies didn’t respond because of public safety concerns; they responded because their boss couldn’t handle a messed-up order. This is an abuse of power, plain and simple.
Mike Dondelinger, who’s running for Chief Deputy, called it out for what it is: a complete waste of resources and a dangerous misuse of authority. Deputies running lights and sirens, putting the public at risk, all because the sheriff wanted to throw his weight around? That’s outrageous. If this doesn’t signal how out of touch Owens is, what will?
And let’s not forget: this is the same sheriff up for re-election. His opponent, David Cavender, is shedding light on the kind of leader Owens really is. Cobb County deserves better than a sheriff who’s more concerned with his Whopper order than with keeping the community safe. We need leaders who respect their positions, who value the citizens they’re sworn to protect, not ones who waste time and taxpayer dollars over personal grudges.
This whole incident is a disgrace to the badge, to the deputies who actually serve and protect, and to the people of Cobb County. Sheriff Owens should be held accountable at the ballot box this November for this abuse of power, and it’s high time voters start asking themselves: Is this really the kind of person we want leading law enforcement in our county?
