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1. How does ACCPD stay accountable to the community?

ACCPD is accountable to the community in a variety of ways, to include the following:

• As part of the ACC Unified Government’s operating structure, the Chief of Police reports directly to the County Manager, who reports to the ACC Commission and ACC Mayor.
• ACCPD complies with Georgia’s Open Records Act. Our records are open to public inspection (with certain exemptions) and made available upon request.  We also post our policies, annual compliance reports, public notices of complaints, use-of-force data, and other information on our Transparency in Policing page. 
• ACCPD regularly engages with citizens in a variety of non-enforcement patrol activities and special events.
• A nationally accredited agency since 1987, ACCPD voluntarily meets the Gold Standard of accreditation through the Commission on Accreditation for Law Enforcement Agencies (CALEA), and our 9-1-1 Communications Center is nationally accredited through CALEA.  We also voluntarily meet all the standards required to receive state accreditation from the Georgia Association of Chiefs of Police.
• It is ACCPD policy (General Order 3.07) to request an independent criminal investigation from the Georgia Bureau of Investigation for all officer-involved shootings and in-custody deaths involving one of our officers.  Additionally, our Office of Professional Standards conducts separate, parallel administrative investigations for all similar incidents.
• ACCPD’s Office of Professional Standards reports directly to the Chief of Police to promote public trust and effective management through a rigorous internal review process that welcomes the public to submit complaints of misconduct, encourages employees to report instances of misconduct, and permits employees to file grievances against departmental actions.           

2. Are ACCPD officers required to identify themselves?

Yes.  Unless it would jeopardize an investigation or hinder a police function, ACCPD Directive 1.04.03 (M) requires officers, non-sworn employees, and volunteers who are engaged in Department-related activities to identify themselves when asked by a citizen.  Depending on their specific assignment, the employee may provide their name, badge number, or Department-issued photo identification.  A business card is also an appropriate means to provide identifying information.  Officers who are operating in an undercover capacity or whose specific assignment, duty, investigation, or personal safety would be compromised are not required to identify themselves. 

3. Do ACCPD officers wear body cameras?

Yes.  It is ACCPD policy (Directive 3.05) to equip its officers with body-worn cameras and that officers will use body-worn cameras to record their interactions with the public.  Body-worn camera videos are retained in compliance with applicable Georgia Record Retention Schedules for local governments.  Upon request, ACCPD makes copies of its body-worn camera videos available to the public in compliance with the Georgia Open Records Act.

Additionally, supervisors are required to conduct monthly inspections of randomly selected body-worn camera videos for officers within their chains of command to assess officers’ performance and ensure compliance with department policies, standards, and training.  

4. Are ACCPD records available to the public?

Yes.  ACCPD records are open for public inspection.  Our Department values transparency and strives to produce all available records in compliance with the Georgia Open Records Act.  However, not all records are subject to being released, and the time necessary for us to produce records may vary depending on the nature of the request and current workloads.  Some records related to ongoing investigations, personal information of individuals, or other sensitive/confidential material are exempt or prohibited from release to the public.  Please note that Georgia Law (O.C.G.A. 50-18-71) permits public agencies up to 90 business days to fulfill open records requests.

You may submit an Open Records Request through our Records Management Unit by delivering a written request in person or by mail at the Athens-Clarke County Police Department, Open Records Officer, 3035 Lexington Road, Athens, GA 30605 or by mail to P.O. Box 1868, Athens, GA 30603.  You may file an Open Records request through our online ACCPD Open Records Center. 

If you have any additional questions concerning open records, please contact us by phone at 762-400-7370.

5. How does ACCPD monitor officers' conduct?

ACCPD provides oversight and accountability by monitoring officers’ conduct and performance in a variety of ways, to include the following:

• Supervisors and commanders routinely monitor officers’ performance and conduct by observing officers on calls, listening to officers’ radio communications, reviewing officers’ reports, speaking with citizens, and reviewing officers’ body-worn camera videos.  Supervisors are expected to appropriately address any concerns, deficiencies, or policy violations observed.
• ACCPD policy on Non-Biased Policing strictly prohibits the practice of using race, ethnicity, religion, gender, sexual orientation, economic status, age, cultural group, etc. as the sole reason for stopping, detaining, searching, arresting, or taking any other action against a person.  All unit-level commanders are required to submit quarterly reports to the Office of Professional Standards and the Accreditation Unit documenting their efforts and their supervisors’ efforts to monitor officers’ conduct related to any bias-based policing, to include reporting any concerns, trends, or complaints of potential bias-based policing.
• ACCPD policy (Directive 6.01 and Directive 6.08) requires that officers report every incident involving a use of force or a vehicle pursuit.  These incidents are investigated by the appropriate supervisors and reviewed by the chain of command before being submitted to the Office of Professional Standards and the Chief of Police.
• ACCPD takes a proactive, non-disciplinary approach to identify and positively influence employee conduct or performance through our Early Intervention Program, as well as the county’s Employee Assistance Program.
• The ACCPD Career Development and Training Unit ensures that officers receive annual training on bias-based policing issues, use-of-force, de-escalation, and community-oriented policing.

6. Does ACCPD offer any assistance to officers to handle stress?

Yes, the ACCPD takes the wellness of our officers and staff very seriously. In addition to the County’s Employee Assistance Program, ACCPD uses an Early Intervention Program designed to take a proactive, non-disciplinary approach to positively influence employees’ conduct and performance.  By applying professionally accepted intervention strategies at an early stage, it is intended that the value of each employee be properly recognized and that his or her professional career be preserved and service as a county employee be retained.  One aspect of the Early Intervention Program is the Early Warning Alert System that automatically generates alerts to notify supervisors and commanders that an employee’s performance may need to be reviewed.  Supervisors are also encouraged to monitor their employee’s for any concerning behaviors or conduct and recommend or refer employees to seek out assistance.  ACCPD also has employees trained as peer counselors through the Georgia Department of Public Safety’s Office of Public Safety Support and requires any employee who has been through a critical incident to participate in a Critical Incident Stress Debrief through this program.