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Police Chief Recognizes Officer of the Year

Text Courtesy of RomeNewsWire.com
The Floyd County Police Department Named their “Officer of the Year” at a ceremony today at the Law enforcement center.

Officer James Hinkley was named the 2007 Officer of the year for his work over the last 10 months of 2007. According to Floyd County police Chief Bill Shiflett, Hinkley who is part of the department’s Special enforcement unit, issued 781 speeding tickets which accounts for 14% of the total tickets issued for the department. During that same time, he also averaged 122.5 arrests per month.

Hinkley is also responsible for reporting to the Governor’s Office of Highway Safety within set deadlines and has done so 100% of the time, making the FCPD one of only 15 agencies in NW Georgia to be a 100% reporter.

Officer Marcus Roberts, who is headed for a deployment in Iraq, was also honored at the ceremony.

Also awarded commendations were Officer Byron McCarley, (244 child restraint and seatbelt violations). Officer Josh Harkins, (42 DUI arrests). and Officer Ron Hunton, (413 speeding citations).

Shiflett said he is proud of all of the officers honored because they are making the road safer for everyone.

Approximately a year and a half ago Chief Shiflett contacted
Senator Smith to see if he could assist us with any state money
to purchase a much needed new SWAT vehicle. The Rome/Floyd
SWAT Team members were driving a 1984 ambulance.  With the
help of the contribution of Senator Smith’s $50,000.00 we were able
to purchase a new 2006 custom made Ford F-550. 

Pictured are (Left to Right):Captain & S.W.A.T. Commander Tom Ewing , Chief Bill Shiflett, Commission Chairman John Mayes, Senator Preston Smith and Commissioner Tom Bennett.

The Floyd County Police Department is asking motorists to move over.

Georgia’s “Move-Over” Law, which was passed in July of 2003, requires drivers to move over one lane when possible if an emergency vehicle with flashing lights is on the side of the highway. If traffic is too congested to move over safely, the law requires drivers to slow down below the posted speed limit and be prepared to stop. The law is meant to keep officers and traffic violators safe from crashes with passing cars.

According to Federal Bureau of Investigation statistics, traffic crashes claim the lives of more police personnel than any other cause of death in the line of duty, including shootings. Last year, forty-nine officers died in crashes across the country. Thirteen of those law enforcement officers were struck and killed by passing vehicles while they worked outside their patrol cars.

During 2003 alone, there were 78 crashes at State DOT worksites in Georgia. Those crashes claimed the lives of 84 people. Seventy-five percent of the crash victims were motorists and their passengers.

As a result, many Georgia law enforcement agencies now routinely assign patrol units to work in pairs during patrols, so that one officer can monitor ongoing traffic and standby to cite drivers who fail to move over or slow down, while the second officer is working traffic enforcement.

“We will be fair about giving citations if a lane change can’t be made safely. But drivers also have the option of slowing down,” said Captain Wallace. “If they don’t, we will give them a ticket. It’s for their own safety as well as our own.”

Fines in Georgia can be up to $500. Click here for more information on the Move Over Law,.

Floyd County Police Activate New Crime Tip Hotline

Rome, Ga. – March 1 - The Floyd County Police Department announced today the immediate activation of a new Crime Tip Hotline aimed at empowering citizens to report information on crime without fear of reprisal.

The hotline is available 24 hours a day by calling
706-236-5000 and utilizes an answering machine that is checked daily by the Intelligence Coordinator. Callers can anonymously report information on any crime including burglary, drugs, domestic violence, crimes against children, arson, robbery, gang activity, assaults and illegal dumping.

” The new Crime Tip Hotline is an approach to total community involvement in crime prevention,” said Floyd County Police Chief Bill Shiflett. “We strongly encourage citizens to make a difference in their communities by anonymously reporting any crime-related information they may have. I think this partnership will have a positive impact on neighborhoods across the county making them safer for everyone.”

Cities such as Louisville, Kentucky are already seeing the benefits of a crime tip hotline. Since its inception in October 2004, the Louisville Metro Police Department’s hotline has taken over 10,000 phone calls and averages approximately 1,000 phone calls each month. Calls to the hotline have resulted in 379 arrests, including closure in four homicides. In addition, two methamphetamine labs have been shut down and two serial bank robbers were captured thanks to citizen information.

All information received through the Floyd County Crime Tip Hotline will be kept confidential and there is no requirement that a caller leaves his or her name, telephone number or address unless the caller chooses to leave their contact information so an investigator can reach them. It is important to leave accurate and detailed information including the address or location of the crime, the time of day criminal activity occurred and any suspect names or vehicle information.

” Callers are encouraged to leave contact information in case the investigator has additional questions,” said Shiflett. “You may have a crucial bit of information, but not realize its value.”

The Crime Tip Hotline will not replace the 911 Emergency call number and should not be used for initial reporting of crimes that have just occurred. Citizens are encouraged to share the hotline number with community groups and associations, churches, businesses, family and friends.

For more information on the Crime Tip Hotline, call Chief Shiflett at 706-235-7766.