Athens-Clarke County has recorded zero murders through September — a first in the county’s history — according to Mayor Kelly Girtz, who announced the milestone Sept. 23 at City Hall.
In addition, there has been a significant decrease in major crimes compared to last year. Aggravated assaults dropped to 420, below the five-year average of 456, according to the Athens-Clarke County Police Department Transparency Hub. Robberies dropped to 67, compared to the average of 111. Motor vehicle thefts hit a five-year low at 211 — less than half the 2021 peak of 423.
“I’m really proud that here in Athens we’ve seen aggravated assaults come down, even while more people have moved into the community,” Girtz said.
Police Department Fully Staffed
For the first time in more than two decades, the Athens-Clarke County Police Department has filled all 243 sworn officer positions, Girtz said. The milestone has contributed to recent progress in the police department.
Entry-level officers now start at $57,560 annually, with a $10,000 hiring bonus. Girtz mentioned that transfer officers retain their rank and prior training.
We have about five times the state requirement (of training) that everyone of our officers engages in every year to get better and better and hone their skills,” Girtz said.
Prevention Beyond Policing
Girtz also mentioned social programs aimed at addressing major issues in the Athens community such as employment, housing and poverty.
“Public safety is also making sure that people have their basic human needs met,” Girtz said. “If people have good places to live, if they have health care, they have good employment opportunities, that’s going to mean we have a safer community.”
He highlighted the Neighborhood Leaders Program, which employs 17 community members to connect residents to resources. The program has helped secure $9 million annually in Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program benefits for eligible families since its 2020 launch.
Technology and Safer Streets
Athens has also invested in more advanced technology in order to quickly tackle crime. The Real-Time Crime Center uses security footage from both public and private cameras to help solve crimes and find missing persons, assisting with the recent situation of a student sleepwalking downtown earlier this year, he said.
Issues with traffic safety still remain. Girtz said the county has launched a Vision Zero Initiative and has allocated $15 million for infrastructure improvements, such as pedestrian infrastructure and intersection redesigns.
County officials analyzed crash data to figure out where the most dangerous crossings are. They specifically looked at areas that frequently saw head-on and T-bone collisions. Construction is expected to begin within the next year at the intersection of Hawthorne and Oglethorpe avenues, which received the highest severity ranking. The county is reconstructing a pedestrian crosswalk on Thomas Street to improve safety following two deaths in separate incidents this year.
Alyssia Hamilton is a journalism major in the Grady College of Journalism and Mass Communication at the University of Georgia.
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