News 12 at 11 o'clock, November 25, 2008

AUGUSTA, Ga. ---Sheriff's deputies and police officers pick up extra work during off duty hours- many of them work security at various restaurants and businesses. That was the case Monday night when Investigator Tim Tobias stepped in during a robbery attempt at a Captain D's Restaurant on Wrightsboro Road.

It is very common for law enforcement officers to work off duty security jobs. It is extra money for the officer and extra protection for the businesses.

Tobias, a 21 year veteran and a Richmond County Sheriff's investigator pulling extra duty called "a special,"shot and killed 26-year old Joseph Gooden as Gooden alledgedly robbed the restautant. It is an example of just how dangerous off duty work can be for these officers. Sheriff Ronnie Strength says his deputies and investigators are allowed to work the extra duty off the clock.
Even so, a deputy is always there to serve and protect and to uphold the law. Strength believes the officer reacted the way any officer would in that situation.

On Tuesday it was back to business as usual at the Captain D's. A Richmond County Police car was parked in the lot that evening. Sheriff Strength says that these special assigments are quite common for different officers.

Sheriff Strength says for now Tobias is on administrative orders while the GBI investigates.

Investigator Tobias was in uniform, not plain clothes at the time of the incident. According to Strength and witnesses in the restaurant the gun Gooden was carrying was an air rifle "bb" gun that looked like an assault rifle.
Strength says he is confident that the GBI will conduct a thorough investigation into the matter.