The Brooklet Police Department is in the process of launching its own Criminal Investigations Unit, according to statements made during Thursday’s city council meeting.
The city police department will begin working its own subdivision within the agency, including hiring a detective, effective immediately.
Citing an uptick in violent crime, Chief Gary Roberts told members of council and the public that he was notified this week that the Bulloch County Sheriff’s Office, which handles criminal investigations for the city at the present time, will no longer assist the city in that capacity. Roberts said BCSO told him that they do not have the manpower to cover the city’s investigations as well and Brooklet has seen a ‘reluctance to give us assistance in that regard because they just don’t have the manpower.’
Lieutenant Stock has been assisting Roberts with the creation of the Detective Division started as well. He told council that all of the officers currently working for the city have some baseline understanding of criminal investigations, are trained in fingerprinting, and will continue to train more extensively into investigations.
Roberts said the GBI will still handle more egregious offenses should they arise inside the city limits and the Georgia State Patrol will still help with major traffic accidents.
A request for comment was made to the Bulloch County Sheriff’s Office but one was not provided ahead of publishing.
During the month of May, the Brooklet Police Department responded to 70 calls for service and self-initiated an additional 98 calls for a total of 168 calls.
