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Snellville police report: crime down in several categories, training up and requests for cameras and staffing
Summary
The police chief reported two homicides, four reported rapes (various case statuses), four robberies (a record low), 28 aggravated assaults, 19 burglaries and substantial training hours. The department announced crime-mapping, cited camera costs and requested additional dispatchers and downtown patrol officers.
The Chief of Police presented the department's annual report, highlighting several long-term declines in property crimes and increases in training and calls for service. The chief said the city recorded two homicides last year (a domestic-related murder–suicide on West Bridal and a drug-related murder on Inglid Way), four reported rapes with varying case statuses, and four robberies — a record low compared with previous years.
The chief said aggravated assaults totaled 28, explaining most are domestic-related strangulation incidents that Georgia law now classifies as aggravated assault. Burglaries numbered 19, down markedly from earlier highs, and the department reported an overall theft reduction of about 17%.
Calls for service exceeded 100,000 (a year-over-year increase the chief described as about 7%), even as incident reports remained near 5,000. The department reported roughly 7,400 training hours across categories, including use-of-force, de-escalation (87 hours), community policing (205 hours), gaming awareness (73 hours) and human-trafficking training (105 hours). Use-of-force events for the year totaled 14, with one incident found outside policy that led to coaching and documentation. Pursuits rose slightly to 27 for the year.
To improve transparency, the chief said the city will publicize a crime-mapping feed via crimemapping.com. He also described investments made after recent park shootings: increased park security, ongoing camera costs he estimated at $125,000 and an additional $65,000 for clock cameras around the city. The department asked the council to consider adding two dispatchers and two police officers to pilot a downtown patrol unit focused on growing downtown activity and events.
The chief also asked the council to reassess participation in a Georgia Municipal Association (GMA) retirement/benefit program; he cited a previous assessment figure of about 10.12% and suggested re-evaluating equivalent contributions to aid recruitment and retention.
