Douglasville Police Department Office Of Professional Standards Releases 2020 Report

Press release from the City of Douglasville:

Post Date:01/28/2021 3:37 AM

Dear Citizens of Douglasville,

To say that 2020 was a difficult year for everyone would be an understatement. Covid-19, civil and political unrest, and a shaken faith in law enforcement have impacted the nation. Certainly, our agency cannot control issues throughout the country, but we can make a difference in our own community.

The Douglasville Police Department will begin 2021 by re-committing itself to keeping the public’s safety, health and well-being at the forefront of our efforts. We will not only continue to work through the pandemic, we will be an example to others on doing so safely and effectively. We will use newly acquired technologies to aid in criminal identification and apprehension, while keeping in mind that, during a national crisis, discretion is often the better part of valor. And, we will be constantly mindful that unity mandates that everyone in a community seek to understand other voices while working toward a common good.

We want to live up to our motto of being “One with our Community”. This requires openness and transparency. One way we attempt to achieve this is by releasing our “End of the Year Report” to the public. Although it does not capture all that we do, it does highlight several aspects of our operation including hiring, staffing, use of force, complaints, calls for service, discipline, retention, and demographics of the community and agency.

Many agencies never publish this information. This is unfortunate for the citizens they serve, as they may never get a true picture of their community, their police department, and the way in which the two interact. This is your community and your police department. We will provide you with as much information as we can so that you may feel like an informed and active member of both. It is our vision that, together, we can guide this city through these troubled times and emerge stronger and healthier than ever before.

Thank you,
Chief Gary Sparks

This press release was produced by the City of Douglasville. The views expressed here are the author’s own.