by Al Summers
News Editor
alsummers@timescourier.com
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East Ellijay Police Chief Greg Arp, second from the right, practices shooting under the watchful eyes of Ellijay Police officer Ken Cox, left, and Lt. Mike Laney, holding paper just behind Arp, at the Fannin county shooting range a few weeks ago. East Ellijay Police officer Mike Davis is shown at the far right. A firearms class and the shooting course, along with the officers’ new Glock pistols, were courtesy of money seized during a drug investigation. Contributed photo
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What goes around comes around.
In some instances, people who violate the state’s laws help equip and train the same law officers who arrested them and put them behind bars. And, they often help assist in their own prosecution.
A few weeks ago, officers from the East Ellijay Police Department received six new Model 22 .40 caliber Glock pistols and a training date on the firing range, complete with ammunition, courtesy of a seizure made during a drug investigation and the subsequent auction of a vehicle.
In addition to the weapon and the training, the officers received duty gear in the form of holsters for the pistols and handcuff cases.
East Ellijay Police Chief Greg Arp said the value of the equipment and the training had an approximate value of $5,000. “Our officers were able to attend three hours of classroom instruction on weapons and shooting under the direction of Ellijay Police Lt. Mike Laney and Ellijay Police Patrolman Ken Cox, both of whom are highly respected in the areas of weapons and firearms training.
“The officers then went to the firing range and applied what they had learned in the classroom. Each officer completed the Georgia Double Action Course, a state-designed course for double action pistols, and they completed a reactive course, which gave them practice in reacting to stressful situations such as “shoot-don’t shoot scenarios.” Lt. Laney and officer Cox also supervised the firing range exercises,” said Arp.
The chief continued, “This $5,000 worth of equipment and training came at no extra cost to the citizens and businesses of East Ellijay, and it will be used to better serve them and protect their property.
When seizures are made, forfeitures completed, and cases closed, cash money is divided between the arresting agency or agencies and the district attorney’s office.
Gilmer County Sheriff Stacy Nicholson said his department had most recently used seized money to purchase a laptop computer and three used cars for the criminal investigation department (CID), six digital cameras and two video recorders.
The double-wide trailer that currently houses the CID was purchased with seized money.
Ellijay Police Chief Larry Callahan said his department had used their most recently seized money to purchase radios, light bars, sirens, shotguns, and raincoats for the officers.
Ellijay’s chief said seized money and other property can come from any kind of crime, but it is usually the result of a case that has to do with drugs.
Arp agreed with Callahan, adding, “If people insist on bringing drugs through East Ellijay, we are going to see that they are prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law, including seizing any property we are allowed to seize under the law.”