GBI Agent from Region 5 Office in Statesboro Named ‘Outstanding Officer of the Year’ by GACP

A Special Agent from the Georgia Bureau of Investigation’s Region 5 office in Statesboro has been named ‘Officer of the Year’ by the Georgia Association of Chiefs of Police.

The announcement was made public on Tuesday during the annual GACP training conference in Savannah.

In a press release from the organization, GACP said Johnson was selected as the 2023 recipient for his investigation of the murder of 88-year old Bobby Kicklighter in Tattnall County’s Glennville.

On January 30, 2021, GBI Special Agent Christian Johnson was asked to assist the Tattnall County Sheriff’s Office with the murder of 88-year-old Bobby Kicklighter. It was later determined the suspects had gone to the wrong house. The intended target was a Smith State Prison correctional officer who was known for being proactive and successful in seizing large amounts of contraband.

TGV has extensive coverage on the Kicklighter murder as well as the goings-on at Smith State Prison, all of which can be found here.

“Agent Johnson’s tenacity and diligence led to the discovery of a large contraband enterprise being run out of the prison which was responsible for multiple murders, aggravated assaults, and the compromise of the prison warden. In addition, several other correctional staff members were implicated as being involved in contraband smuggling. This investigation is still an active investigation and additional arrests and indictments are forthcoming.”

Georgia Association of Chiefs of Police