BoC vote and contract to conduct Griffin PD operational assessment cloaked in secrecy

SHEILA A. MATHEWS ::: The Griffin Board of Commissioners has voted to authorize an operational assessment of the Griffin Police Department. The vote authorizing City Attorney Drew Whalen to move forward with a contract for this assessment was taken during the BoC’s Nov. 22 meeting. All discussion about the operational assessment and the vote authorizing […]

All Griffin Police Department CAGE Unit officers temporarily reassigned to other divisions

SHEILA A. MATHEWS ::: Griffin Police Department Chief Mike Yates has temporarily reassigned all members of the Criminal Apprehension and Gang Enforcement (CAGE) Unit to other divisions. Yates’ internal memorandum – identified as a special order – said the temporary reassignments would be effective Jan. 8, 2023. A sweeping operational assessment of the Griffin Police […]

BoC vote and contract to conduct Griffin PD operational assessment cloaked in secrecy

SHEILA A. MATHEWS ::: The Griffin Board of Commissioners has voted to authorize an operational assessment of the Griffin Police Department. The vote authorizing City Attorney Drew Whalen to move forward with a contract for this assessment was taken during the BoC’s Nov. 22 meeting. All discussion about the operational assessment and the vote authorizing […]

GPD withholds records in case alleging judicial misconduct against local judge

SHEILA A. MATHEWS ::: The city of Griffin is again refusing to release public records to The GRIP, this time withholding records associated with an investigation of alleged judicial misconduct involving Spalding County Magistrate Judge Don Taliaferro. The alleged misconduct was first reported to the Griffin Police Department on June 14, 2018, when Toni Presley […]

City of Griffin releases records to The GRIP after seven-month dispute

SHEILA A. MATHEWS ::: After refusing since Feb. 3 to produce certain personnel records sought in an Open Records request submitted by The GRIP Publisher Sheila Mathews, the city of Griffin on Sept. 1 reversed that long held decision and released the exempted documents. At the crux of the dispute were the pre-employment computer voice […]

Autopsy did not reveal cause of death in case of man’s body located Friday night

SHEILA A. MATHEWS ::: The Georgia Bureau of Investigation Crime Lab has conducted an autopsy on the body located in north Griffin Friday night, but that forensic examination did not reveal a cause of death. According to Spalding County Coroner Sonny Foster, the autopsy revealed no trauma or evidence of foul play in the man’s […]

Two Griffin police officers terminated over Facebook comments

STAFF  REPORT :: Griffin City Manager Kenny Smith, in keeping with the recommendation of Police Chief Mike Yates, has terminated Bryan Jones and Stacy Beckom, both formerly master patrol officers with the Griffin Police Department. A press released issued by the city stated, “The city of Griffin takes pride in its reputation for providing a […]