ATLANTA — Georgia Attorney General Chris Carr took up right where Deputy Public Safety Commissioner Lt. Col. William “Billy” Hitchens III left off at Effingham Day at the Capitol on Feb. 1.

Carr was handed the microphone in the James H. “Sloppy” Floyd Building after Hitchens III mentioned that law enforcement officers want and need the public’s support during trying times for them.

“I want to thank Lt. Col. Hitchens and his colleagues for everything they do,” Carr said. “As he said, it is a very difficult time to be in law enforcement — recruitment and retention. There is a crisis in respect in a lot areas but law enforcement in particular.

“Y’all, you know, we don’t get to gather together today to talk about policies, to talk about the issues of the day, to talk about economic development if there are not men and women willing to put on a uniform both here and overseas to keep us safe.”

Carr, who has served as attorney general since 2016, had three suggestions to ease the law enforcement crisis.

“We do need to stand up and support the men and women in law enforcement,” he said. “I mean all of us collectively — those of in elective office and the community — because I am confident that every time that Lt. Col. Hitchens, his colleagues, local law enforcement and others leave home somebody is saying a prayer that they come home safely.

“It is a dangerous world and the only way that we defend our rights, defend our state and defend our communities is if there is somebody is willing to do it.”

Carr continued on that theme.

“Number two, we need to provide the resources, the training and the technology to help law enforcement do its job,” he said. “Better-trained law enforcement leads to safer communities. That is a win-win ...”

Carr had one more strong recommendation.

“When we ask law enforcement officers to go out and enforce the law, we have to demand that our prosecutors around the state uphold the law. We now have prosecutors that are one individual in the judicial or the executive branch that are saying, ‘I don’t like this law so I’m not going to enforce it.

“That’s a dereliction of duty. That undermines how we do things. If you don’t like the law, join these members of the legislature. That’s how we change laws in this country.”