External Website www.accpd.org Emergencies 911 Administration 706-613-3330 Administration Hours 7:45 a.m. - 6:00 p.m. M-F 9:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. Sat Chief of Police Chief Jack Lumpkin Administration Location/ East Precinct 3035 Lexington Road Location Map West Precinct Georgia Square Mall 706-613-3850 Location Map Mailing Address P.O. Box 1868 Athens, GA 30603 Substations Downtown 133 E. Washington St. 706-613-3343 Location Map East Athens 385 Fairview St. 706-613-3358 Location Map West Athens 1065 Baxter St. 706-208-1718 Location Map Other Numbers Crime Tip Hotline: 706-613-3342 Drug Hotline: 706-613-3297

NEW! May 15, 2008 is Peace Officers Memorial Day. Athens-Clarke County has 3 names engraved on the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial Wall in Washington D. C. honoring officers lost in the line of duty. Police Officer Herman Karl Stein died from a gunshot wound suffered while struggling with a burglar on November 20, 1936, Police Corporal Thomas Earl Bowles died from a cerebral hemorrhage suffered while struggling with a DUI driver on January 16, 1985, and Sheriff's Lieutenant James Clark died in a motor vehicle accident by a person driving under the influence of alcohol while he and another deputy were transporting an inmate to attend a funeral on May 24, 2000.

NEW! Fourteen students recently graduated from the 19th session of the Citizen Police Academy. Major Mark Sizemore, Criminal Investigation Division, was the guest speaker.

Graduates were James Alberts, Patricia Anglin, France Boney, Peggy Buchholz, Nancy Canolty, Beverly Chalk, John Clendenin, Heather Hogan, Sissy Lester, Sunita Singh, Brad Suddeth, Julie Thaxton, Raymond Thaxton, and Lauren Williams.

The next session will begin Thursday, August 26. Applicants must be at least 18 years of age, live or work in Athens-Clarke County, and pass a criminal background check. Anyone interested in attending should contact Captain Dan Silk at 706-613-3888 ext. 318 or Savannah Hembree at 706-613-3188 ext. 231.

NEW! Senior Police Officer David Gabriel and Communications Officer Leslie Phelps were honered as the sworn and civilian employees respectively for the first quarter.

On January 14, SPO Gabriel, the School Resource Officer at Clarke Middle School, was advised of a student on a school bus who was not breathing. He requested EMS and began rescue breathing on the student which in turn saved her life.

On March 15, CO Phelps, who was on leave, had stopped by the Communication Center. Because of the increase in severe weather, she put on her headset in order help out with the increasing amount of phone calls. CO Phelps truly showed her dedication to her co-workers, officers, and community.

Chief Joseph H. Lumpkin Sr presented each with a plaque and expressed his appreciation for their dedication and hard work.

NEW! Alleged "Crown Royal Bandit" Bruce Allen Hughes, 47, of Blairsville, Georgia, has been indicted by a federal grand jury on charges of conspiracy to commit Hobbs Act robbery, three counts of armed bank robbery, and four counts of use and possession of a firearm during the commission of a violent felony. Another defendant named in the indictment, Christine Verner, 42, of Athens, Georgia, is charged with conspiracy to commit Hobbs Act robbery, and possession of a firearm in furtherance of a violent crime.

United States Attorney David E. Nahmias said, “A dedicated group of detectives at the Athens-Clarke County Police Department helped to bring this 10 year-long investigation to a successful close. Along with significant assistance from the Banks County, Fannin County, and Madison County Sheriff's Departments, and the FBI's diligent work, we now have charged the alleged 'Crown Royal Bandit.' This case involved a staggering 28 armed bank robberies and a loss of over $300,000 in federally-insured currency.”

FBI Atlanta Special Agent In Charge Greg Jones said, “Today's indictment of Mr. Hughes is an example of the benefits of a strong working relationship with our fellow law enforcement partners. It also serves as an excellent example of our partnership with the media and, ultimately, with the public in such matters. The media attention generated regarding the Crown Royal Bandit, and the resulting public response, was instrumental in the successful resolution of a crime spree that plagued the Metro Atlanta area and beyond for over ten years.”

Athens-Clarke County Police Chief Joseph Lumpkin said, “Members of the Athens-Clarke County Police Department's Criminal Investigation Division, particularly the Robbery/Homicide Unit, worked diligently--as is their practice and custom--to solve this bank robbery and thankfully, leads were developed that resulted in the identification of this alleged long term offender.”  

NEW! Crime Stoppers is offering rewards up to $1,000 for information on each of the following crimes:

Armed robbery at Choo Choo (1055 Gaines School Road) on April 12 around 3:00 a.m. A black male entered the restaurant and went directly behind the counter He pointed a handgun at the clerk and demanded the cash from the register. The restaurant was busy at the time of the robbery. After receiving the cash the suspect left the store on foot. This case may be related to the armed robbery that occurred on March 26 at Perry's Convenience Store.

An armed robbery occurred on March 26 around 2230 hours at PERRY’S CONVENIENCE STORE, 1195 Cedar Shoals Dr. A black male entered the store, pointed a silver handgun at the clerk, and ordered him to empty the register. The suspect wore white gloves and a white filter mask over his face. He left on foot.

The second crime occurred on March 30 around 0230 hours. A female was driving her white Honda Civic on S Milledge Ave at E. Campus Rd. It was raining and the vehicle behind her was following closely. The victim tapped her brakes several times, but the vehicle did not back off.

She turned into the driveway at 1736 S Milledge Ave to turn around and the vehicle that was behind her also turned in. She turned around in the driveway and the suspect vehicle was stopped at the top of the driveway. The victim blew her horn for the vehicle to move. The suspect vehicle backed out of the driveway and stopped. The driver’s window came down and several shots were fired at the victim.

None of the rounds hit her vehicle, but two rounds entered into the residence. There were no injuries reported from the gunfire. The suspect’s vehicle was described as a champagne in color 1980's model sedan, possibly a Chevrolet Caprice or something similar.

Anyone with information is asked to contact Sgt. Jerry Saulters at 706-613-3888 X296. If you wish to remain anonymous please call the Crime Stoppers tip line at 706-613-3342.

There has been an increase in entering autos, especially in the Beechwood, Alps Road, and Baxter Street areas. Perpetrators of car break-ins often move from one area to another, making it difficult to anticipate their next target area.

A major reason so many vehicles are broken into is that valuables are left in vehicles in plain sight. Purses, MP3 players, CDs, laptop computers, and even loose change on the console are an invitation to thieves to break into your vehicle.

Always lock your vehicle and close the windows completely. Do not leave items of value in the plain site in the passenger compartment of your vehicle.

A Web site has been set up with information about Sgt. Courtney Gale at www.getwellcourtney.com.

Athens-Clarke County residents are advised to be wary if approached by anyone claiming to have found a wallet, bag, or some other object containing money. This is call a pigeon drop scam. The way the scam works is the victim is approached and told a sum of money has been found. The suspect(s) is/are willing to share the money with the victim if the victim can provide some of their own monies to pay taxes or for some other reason. When the victim provides the funds, he/she is usually given the item supposedly containing the found cash. When the item is opened, the victim discovers there is in fact no cash in the item. Citizens who are approached in this manner are encouraged to call 911 to report the incident.

On 11-04-07 at approx. 0151 hrs a pedestrian was struck and killed by a vehicle on Oak St. near the intersection of Inglewood Dr. After colliding with the pedestrian the vehicle left the scene.

Witnesses described the suspect vehicle as a light colored box style car possibly a Volvo. The car was occupied by two white males with the driver having brown hair.

If anyone has information about this accident they can call Lt. Coker at 706 208-1718 ext.223 or SPO Kenny Brown at ext. 238

The U.S. Green Building Council has designated the Athens-Clarke County Unified Government's East and West Police Substations as Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED™)Certified. Features of these designs include reduced water usage and use of recycled content and locally manufactured buidling materials. The two facilities mark the first Unified Government buidlings awarded the designation since a policy in 2004 stating that all buildings achieve LEED certification was adopted.

The Police Department received its second state recertification award at the Georgia Association of Chiefs of Police summer conference in Savannah on July 31. Their initial certification was obtained in 1997, and they were the first agency in the state to be both State Certified and Nationally Accredited. The current recertification will last until 2010.

As of fall 2007, the school crossing located at Broad Street & Minor Street will no longer be staffed as a school crossing. It has not been used by children as a crossing during recent school years due to busing.

The ACCPD would like to remind motorists that pedestrians have the right-of-way in marked crosswalks. Police officers will monitor crosswalks and issue citations to drivers who are in violation of this code. Read the Official Code of Georgia Annotated 40-6-91.

The ACCPD would like to encourage citizens not to park on sidewalks for the safety of all pedestrians. Any vehicle parked on a sidewalk will be ticketed and towed.

The Police Department was recently reaccredited for the sixth time by the Commission on Accreditation for Law Enforcement Agencies (CALEA) at their meeting in Reno, NV.
Since the department has been accredited for more than 15 years, it has attained the status of a Meritorious Agency. CALEA was created in 1979 as a credentialing authority through the joint efforts of law enforcement's major executive associations.

Tag frames that obscure the month/year of expiration and county of registration on license plates are in violation of Georgia law. The Official Code of Georgia Annotated (OCGA) §40-2-41 states that a license plate "shall be legible at all times. … No apparatus that obstructs or hinders the clear display and legibility of a license plate shall be attached to the rear of a motor vehicle required to be registered in the state." A violation is a misdemeanor. Motor vehicle owners are encouraged to make sure the entire license plate is visible on their vehicle(s). Drivers of vehicles with obscured information are subject to receiving a ticket.

ACCPD's Weed & Seed Program is featured in the Fall/Winter 2006 issue Community Capacity Development Office's Weed & Seed In-Sites publication. It includes a nice overview of the Community Oriented Policing Problem Solving (COPPS) model.

Shopping tips:

• Do not leave purses unattended while shopping or dining.
• Do not carry multiple credit cards or checkbooks when you go shopping. Limit cards carried to only those you intend to use that day.
• Don’t flash cash or expensive jewelry when shopping. Place purchases into vehicle trunks and disable automatic trunk releases when you place valuables in your car.
• Park your vehicle in an open, visible area when shopping and lock the doors.

The ACCPD has formed a new Volunteer Program. Many important and interesting positions will be filled by volunteers. For more information, contact Mary Hamby, Volunteer Coordinator, at 706-613-3888 ext. 272.

The Sex Offender search for Athens-Clarke County is available through the Georgia Bureau of Investigation.

In order to alleviate traffic congestion after home football games, motorists traveling north bound on the 10 Loop from College Sta Rd are asked not to exit at the Lexington Rd/Hwy 78 exit (exit 8) and attempt a left turn (west bound, toward downtown). Motorists attempting left turns causes the traffic to back up on the 10 Loop. Instead, motorists are asked to continue north on the Loop and, if necessary, use another exit to travel downtown.

The Athens-Clarke County Police Department has a supply of free gun safety locks available for citizens who wish to make their homes safer. These locks were provided through Project ChildSafe, a nationwide program to help ensure safe and responsible firearms ownership and storage, developed by the National Shooting Sports Foundation and supported by a U.S. Department of Justice grant. These locks can be used on automatic pistols, revolvers, autoloading and pump-action shotguns, and bolt action rifles. An instructional brochure including safety tips is enclosed with each lock. Interested citizens may come by the East Precinct at 3035 Lexington Rd or the West Precinct at Georgia Square Mall, 3700 Atlanta Hwy to pick up the locks.

Athens-Clarke County's ISO rating improves. Read more.

A state traffic law became effective July 1, 2003 regulating the operation of a vehicle when approaching a stationary emergency vehicle that is displaying flashing yellow, amber, white, red, or blue lights. The law states that when approaching a stationary emergency vehicle, be cautious and change to a lane that is not adjacent to the vehicle. If the lane change is impossible, be prepared to slow down or come to a complete stop. Violation of the law will result in a penalty of a $500.00 fine and 6 points assigned to the violator's driving history.

Visit the separate ACC Police Department Web site (maintained by the ACCPD) for more information and rewards for information leading to criminal arrests.

The ACC Police Department has been provided a computer by the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children. The computer, which is maintained and housed in the Detective Division, is internet-connected and accompanied by a printer/scanner for entering photos and posters of missing children. The system provides interstate alerts for missing children and adults as well as wanted or unidentified persons.

The Police Department sponsors Explorer Post 723. The Explorer program is for young men and women between the ages of 15 and 20 and designed to allow them to gain practical knowledge of and experience in a career while taking on leadership roles and learning and growing in a supportive, caring, and enjoyable environment. For more details, call 613-3888 ext. 723.

Police Department Mission Statement
The mission of the Athens-Clarke County Police Department is to form partnerships with our citizenry and visitors that result in this venue being the safest core of any metropolitan area in the State of Georgia. The department's mission includes, but is not limited to, protecting the well-being of all persons and their property by ensuring effective, efficient, timely, and equitable police services throughout our jurisdiction.

The department recognizes and welcomes the public as full partners in our endeavors to create support systems which produce continuous improvement within our individual and collective responsibilities. Thus, the department has adopted Community-Oriented Policing, the SARA model of problem-solving, and Problem-Orienting Policing approaches as our key management tools and operational philosophies.

Community-Oriented Policing
Community-Oriented Policing is law enforcement's mirroring of changes ongoing throughout the country. Community-Oriented Policing embodies law enforcement's response to the growing concern of citizens that government play a more responsive role in addressing the quality of life issues affecting our communities. Community-Oriented Policing is a management and operational philosophy of full-service, personalized policing where the same officer patrols and works in the same area on a permanent basis, from a decentralized place, working in a proactive partnership with citizens to identify and solve problems.

Police Department Makeup
The Athens-Clarke County Police Department has an authorized strength of 218 sworn positions, 56 civilian positions and 28 crossing guards. It was the 48th police department to be recognized nationally as an accredited police department and the first to receive certification by the State of Georgia.

Accreditation
The Athens-Clarke County Police Department was recently re-accredited by the Commission on Accreditation for Law Enforcement Agencies (CALEA). In order to be re-accredited, the Department was thoroughly examined by a panel of three accreditors with law enforcement backgrounds from across the country. All departmental policies and procedures were examined and the panel received input from members of the community at a public hearing. ACCPD is one of only 556 accredited agencies in the world.

Emergency Action Planning Guide
Download this "How To" Guide for Businesses (PDF Format) created between the ACC Police Department, ACC Fire and Emergency Services Department and Athens Regional Medical Center.

History of the ACCPD
Prior to the unification of the Athens and Clarke County governments in 1991 there were two separate police departments. The Athens Police Department was formed in the early 1900s and the Clarke County Police Department was formed in 1974. Prior to 1974 there was a Clarke County Department formed in the early 1960s or late 1950s under Sheriff Tommy Huff.