Cobb Police to Be Audited by Outside Agency

MARIETTA, GA -- Cobb County’s Department of Public Safety will be audited by an outside agency.

The board of commissioners voted for the audit during their meeting on Tuesday, reports 11Alive.

Director of public safety Sam Heaton says an audit of the department’s policies from an outside agency may cost $95,000. Heaton has said that despite the fact the county has an excellent police department, “trust issues” with some members of the local community remain.

The decision to audit the department comes after the resignation of Maurice Lawson, a Cobb police officer who allegedly made racial comments after pulling over an African American motorist.

Lawson was caught on video making the comment, “I don’t care about your people” during a traffic stop involving Fulton County school teacher Brian Baker.

Lawson had been suspended for two weeks without pay after the Cobb police department determined he had violated departmental standards.

Lawson also was allegedly involved in a similar exchange with Cobb County commissioner Lisa Cupid, who accused him of racial profiling.

A GoFundMe page was also created for Lawson to help his family meet expenses during his suspension. Its goal was to raise $5,000, but instead raised $6,500 in less than two weeks.