MY TENURE AS CHIEF OF POLICE

I WAS CLEARED OF THE ALLEGATIONS BY THE GEORGIA PEACE OFFICERS STANDARDS AND TRAINING COUNCIL (P.O.S.T). 

gntc article.pdf

In August of 2018, I was hired by the Atlanta Metropolitan State College Police
Department (AMSCPD) (Unit of the University System of Georgia) as a Police Corporal. I
embraced the role because of the newly found challenge of supervision and as an
opportunity to rebrand my career following a less than desirable departure from the
Georgia Department of Public Safety (DPS). I hit the ground running and was excited
until learned that a month after starting, DPS changed my P.O.S.T. status from voluntary
resignation to resigned while under investigation which launched a P.O.S.T
Investigation. Approximately 9 months later, and after appeal, I received 3 years P.O.S.T
probation with no credit for the time that had lapsed.

I was still grateful to have that behind me and to be able to turn this into the
opportunity of a lifetime. I began to get engaged with the campus community and
began believing so passionately in the institution that I enrolled into college there in
January of 2019 shortly after receiving my first exceeding standards performance
appraisal from Captain (RET.) V. Crawford . Now sharpening my craft, I
began to immerse myself in learning what it meant to be a supervisor so much so that I
attended Supervisory I, II, and III all in the same year leading to certification.
Additionally, I attended FTO.

While attending classes, working, and attending training, I also managed a $250,000
federal grant for the agency and pioneered our path to NIBRS compliance. I also
managed the property and evidence room. Shortly after the departure of Captain
Crawford, I assumed more supervisory responsibility and was promoted to Sergeant in
2019. In addition to the previously mentioned responsibilities, I began to supervisor our
civilian dispatchers and conduct background investigations for new hires. While in this
role, I attended Management I, II, and III leading to certification. I also assumed the role
of agency TAC.

By 2020 – 2021, in addition to the above-mentioned tasks, I became the agency’s
training officer, and led the college’s emergency management. I updated all EOP
plans, conducted monthly meetings with campus leadership, and coordinated
tabletop training exercises. After being promoted again to Lieutenant, I began to take
an agency vehicle home per the Chief of Police as the designated Assistant Chief of
Police who was on call. This is when I ushered into becoming a salaried employee. This is
about the time that I revamped the agency’s radio infrastructure and privatized
dispatch coordinating long hours with the new vendor to get it up and running,
ultimately leading to institutional cost savings of almost 6 figures.

The college was in a financial struggle, especially in the wake of COVID, and as
employees began to be laid off, I assumed additional responsibility such as
coordinating the mail room operations and laptop loaner program. In late 2021, I was
promoted again to the rank of Captain, and attended the GACP accreditation
manager course and began rewriting the agency’s long outdated policy manual in
hopes of becoming state accreditation. By this time, I had attended the FBI -LEEDA
Supervisory, Management, and Executive Courses (self-funded) leading to my Trilogy
Award. 

In April of 2022, I was appointed Interim Chief of Police and immediately got to work
with the same level ambition. I assisted Atlanta Police as they transitioned their training
academy to the campus, created innovative ways to bond with our campus
community (self-funded), painted the police department (self-funded materials) to
provide a professional image, purchased new an updated department patches and
challenge coins (self-funded), upgraded the agency weapons, rebranded the
agency’s vehicle fleet for uniformity, and worked patrol on nights, weekends, etc. With
the challenges, I still coordinated two MATEN Traffic Network Meetings on campus (self
funded).

In late April 2022, I removed a substandard officer for abandoning his post as the only
officer on duty after coming to campus on a weekend to find that he was gone
entirely. May 7, 2022, I successfully coordinated a bomb threat response on graduation
morning on campus, coordinated the apprehension of the offender, and walked the
state to earn my bachelor’s degree from AMSC. I also received complimentary remarks
from Chancellor Perdue.

In June 2022, I was notified that I had received an ethics complaint at the USG level
from the employee I had let go which did not come as a surprise given his remarks that
he was going to “do everything in his power to ruin me”. I remember reaching out to
my supervisor and him stating, “don’t worry about it, we know what you do here”.
When I met the investigator, he started by asking me about the off-duty locations. I told
him that I had already learned my lesson regarding off-duty employment, and I had full
approval. After he mentioned jurisdiction per USG policy, I reminded him that the new
policy did not take effect for another 60+ days and all USG chiefs were due to update
our policies to reflect it and submit to the USG for approval by a date that not even
passed yet. Not only was it not in policy, but I showed him that both locations (CHOA
and Atlantic Station) were both within USG 500-yard jurisdictional boundaries. I even
reminded him that Georgia State University had just had an officer involved shooting at
Atlantic Station where the officer was cleared. Additionally, Georgia State University
Police coordinated Atlantic Station.

When the investigator moved to speak about the patrol vehicle, I attempted to show
him USG policy reflects approved take home vehicles for on call persons, specifically
agency heads. I then pointed out that my address of record was in between CHOA
and the college and did not require me to go out of the way. I reminded him of the
Atlanta protests (Wendy’s shooting less than 1 mile from campus) for example. Given
our staff of 2 police officers and a security officer, I was constantly involved with the
campus, especially given its geographical location.

Once the investigator mentioned hours, I first told him that the college president, senior
leadership, and campus community would all attest to my continued commitment
level to the campus regardless of the time or day. Given our staffing shortages, I did not
have the luxury of working normal hours. After he questioned why one civilian
employee received so many hours, I replied that the coverage was needed because
of the abundance of administrative functions I was tasked with, it was helpful having
him to actively patrol. Additionally, he was an older gentleman and was emotionally thankful because, for the first time in
his adult life, he enjoyed coming to work and did not have to financially struggle.

So,
with the approval of supervision, I was allowed to give him the hours.
After the investigator questioned the time clock, I made him aware that I, like many
other leaders on campus, was salaried and therefore did not maintain a time sheet. He
stated that not having a time sheet violated law and policy, however, when I
challenged him on that, he could not produce one document that required it. I later
filed an open records request and found that no salaried USG employees at AMSC or
abroad maintained a time sheet. The investigator also admitted that the college
president gave me a raving review. I asked the investigator why he did not accuse me
of stealing time if he did not feel I put in my hours, and he could not give me an answer.
When asked about an off duty I approved for the complainant a year prior, I told him
that I was authorized to give temporary short notice off-duty job approvals, however, all
long-term approvals came from the chief. Ultimately, to the best of my memory, the
allegation was that I was not engaged with the campus or some verbiage to that
effect.

Ironically enough, a week after leaving, I spoke with Chief Conolly of Georgia Tech PD
who apologized for what happened to me and admitted that it was wrong, and I got
“screwed”. Also, the agency no longer exists as they contracted services to Georgia
State University PD for cost savings which had been rumored to be a major contributor
to why things went the way that they did.

i WAS CLEARED OF WRONGDOING BY THE GEORGIA PEACE OFFICER STANDARDS AND TRAINING COUNCIL (P.O.S.T.).

I WAS CLEARED OF THE ALLEGATIONS BY THE GEORGIA PEACE OFFICERS STANDARDS AND TRAINING COUNCIL (P.O.S.T). 

amsc supporting doc.pdf

I WAS CLEARED OF THE ALLEGATIONS BY THE GEORGIA PEACE OFFICERS STANDARDS AND TRAINING COUNCIL (P.O.S.T). 

amsc supporting doc ii.pdf

I WAS CLEARED OF THE ALLEGATIONS BY THE GEORGIA PEACE OFFICERS STANDARDS AND TRAINING COUNCIL (P.O.S.T). 

seperation letter.pdf