The Locust Grove Police Department was honored at the July 5 regular meeting of the City Council for its recent certification achievement, when the Georgia Association of Chiefs of Police awarded the department its official plaque recognizing it as a certified law enforcement program.
Police Chief Derrick Austin, who assumed that role only about a year ago, accepted the plaque from Chuck Groover, state certification coordinator for the GACP. Officer Chardannay Hurst, professional standards specialist, was given a certificate of appreciation for her role in the certification process.
Mayor Robert Price expressed his appreciation to the chief and the department for this achievement, noting that Austin had made a commitment to the council to work as hard as possible to get certification for the department within his first two years as chief. Price added that the city has and will continue to seek to provide the department with the latest tools, technology – such as body-worn cameras and in-car video and computers – and training to keep the officers and the public safe.
The Law Enforcement Certification Program is complex and rigorous, requiring the department to meet standards covering nine areas essential to agency operation. Locust Grove applied for certification in 2021 and, after a thorough self-analysis was conducted by the department that led to putting required policies and procedures in place, an on-site review team consisting of several trained assessors paid a visit to verify the work. That assessment team leader then submitted a final report to the State Certification Committee and the Joint Review Committee for review and verification that the LGPD had met the requirements for certification.
In 2006, the Georgia Association of Chiefs of Police partnered with Georgia Interlocal Risk Management Agency (GIRMA) to provide special rate reduction incentives to cities and counties that have achieved and maintained their State Certification status. These reductions can decrease liability premiums by up to twenty percent (20 percent). In addition, GIRMA contracted with Legal and Liability Risk Management Institute to provide current and updated legal standards available to enhance the ability to provide policy guidance in high liability areas of concern.
