Thursday, May 13, 2021

PRESS RELEASE THOMASTON POLICE CHIEF

THOMASTON POLICE CHIEF MIKE RICHARDSON HAS APOLOGIZED TO PASTOR GREG SMITH AND THE COMMUNITY FOR REMARKS HE MADE AT A CALLED CITY COUNCIL MEETING LAST WEEK WHEN COUNCIL AGREED TO CONTINUE THE REDSPEED CAMERA PROGRAM IN THE SCHOOL ZONE AT UL MIDDLE SCHOOL.

IN A PRESS RELEASE, THE CHIEF SAID HE DID NOT MEAN TO SUGGEST PASTOR SMITH, A CROSSING GUARD ON HIGHWAY 74 AND CHAPLAIN OF THE P.D., WAS THE SOLE REASON FOR SIGNING-UP FOR THE PROGRAM SINCE THE PASTOR HAD COMPLAINED ABOUT SPEEDING IN THE SCHOOL ZONE FOR SOME TIME.

THE CHIEF TOLD US A 2019 SPEED STUDY OF THE SCHOOL ZONE SIGNALED THE NEED FOR ENFORCEMENT AND THE CAMERAS CONTINUE TO LOG 40 TO 50 SPEEDING VIOLATIONS A WEEK.

THE PROGRAM HAS GAINED WIDE SPREAD POPULARITY SINCE STATE LAW WAS PASSED ALLOWING IT. THE CITY OF GRIFFIN JUST APPROVED IT IN TWO SCHOOL ZONES AND SEVERAL JURISDICTIONS IN THE ATLANTA AREA ARE NOW ON BOARD WITH IT.

COUNCILMAN JEFF MIDDLEBROOKS VOTED AGAINST THE CONTRACT, CALLING IT ENTRAPMENT.

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