News

Meet Charlie! Social Circle Police Department’s newest member

Charlie was excited to meet his new team and especially his new partner, Officer Chad Hunt on Tuesday, October 17, 2017.  Charlie has already joined Office Hunt on his rounds. The pair will complete training together over the next few weeks before Charlie can be fully utilized on patrol.

Charlie is a 4 year old Belgian Malinois that is highly trained in narcotics detection.  Charlie has served oversees in the Republic of Georgia most of his career, but looks forward serving with the Social Circle Police Department. “He’s very social and has settled in well.” said Officer Chad Hunt

Charlie was donated to the Social Circle Police Department with the facilitation of the State Department and City of Covington Police Department.  Expenses associated with Charlie’s upkeep and equipment were paid for through asset forfeiture and donations.

“Charlie will be a tremendous asset to the city of Social Circle as we continue to make this community a better place to live, work and play. “said Police Chief Tyrone Oliver.

The City of Social Circle Police Department held a graduation ceremony and family lunch honoring the first Citizen’s Police Academy graduates on Saturday October 14, 2017. Participants in this program met for six (6) weeks on Tuesday evenings from 6 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. in the police department’s community room. The classes were a combination of lectures, demonstrations and interactive activities.

“We would like to congratulate the Social Circle Police Department’s Citizen Police Academy’s inaugural class for successfully completing this program.  It was an honor to have the opportunity to be able to provide this experience for our citizens,” Police Chief Tyrone Oliver said.

The Social Circle Citizen’s Police Academy was created to give our residents and corporate partners of Social Circle a chance to see, understand and interact with the inner workings of the Social Circle Police Department.  Participants learned about the available services, resources and programs offered by the department. More importantly, participants got a chance to meet and interact with the men and women who provide these services. This course covered the structure and overview of the police department, patrol functions, criminal investigations, judicial process, firearms training and use of force and use of force considerations.  Also during the program, participants were required to complete at least two (2) hours of police “ride-a-longs”.  The funds for the program were made possible through the Lions and the Lion-hearted Golf Tournament, which seeded the Lion-hearted fund.

“I would like to thank Lieutenant Randy Downs who did a phenomenal job spearheading this course and the entire police department staff for their participation.  This was truly a department-wide effort in making this a very successful partnership between the community and law enforcement,” Police Chief Tyrone Oliver said. This course will be offered twice a year, once in the spring and once in the fall.  Please check our website (socialcircelga.gov) and Facebook page (City of Social Circle, Georgia) for future class dates.

Pictured left to Right, Bottom row: Brenda Stewart, Rebecca Barnett, Thomas Carter, Cathy Rape, Addie Massey and Marty Burns

Back Row: Chief Tyrone Oliver, Lynn Pulliam, Investigator Bill Bowen, Millie Kozak, Daniel Kozak, David Keener, Andy Rape, Robert Posner, Investigator Michael Jett, James Corbett, Tyson Jackson, Lt. Randy Downs and Sgt. James Pilgrim.  (not Pictured Ray Martinez)