Dawsonville Police Department? Could Happen!
News October 25, 2017
City Manager Bob Bolz
DAWSONVILLE, Ga. – In a slide presentation to city council Monday, Dawsonville City Manager Bob Bolz presented reasons why the city should consider forming its own police department, what the potential cost would be and how it could be funded.
Bolz began by pointing out a rise in crime statistics in Dawsonville and other north Georgia cities similar in size to Dawsonville. He also said that only 22 of north Georgia’s 103 cities do not have a city police department.
Bolz suggested the start-up cost associated with the formation of a new police department could be paid from the city’s surplus funds and would include a salary and benefit package for a police chief ($80,338), one part-time deputy ($12,000), police-outfitted Dodge Charger ($30,000), officer equipment, including service weapon, uniform, bulletproof vest, hand-held radio and taser ($3,800) and office equipment ($2,000).
Potential funding sources, he said, include LOST and SPLOST funds, an increase in city revenue related to growth and development, rural city grants and renegotiated service agreement with the county.
No decision was made at the work session and council indicated they wanted to study the proposal. Comments made by Councilman Caleb Phillips and Councilwoman Angie Smith seemed to indicate they would favor creating a city police department while Councilman Mike Sosebee seemed less favorable.
4 Comments
Dawsonville does not need their own dept. Just too small.
Dawsonville is not big enough to have a their own police department. Especially to have a police chief and a part time officer. Dawson county is based in Dawsonville and would still be answering calls for the city.
Thank you for reading Fetch Your News, Laura.
The proposal is for a police chief and a part time deputy?? Seriously? THAT is the bright idea the city manager has come up with to combat rising crime? How many more deputies could be hired at the Sheriff’s Office for that same amount of money? Seems to me that more deputies with the Sheriff’s Office on the streets would be a far better option to fight crime than a brand new police chief and a single part time police deputy.