Police Department
In an emergency, dial 911 from any phone within the City. This number applies for any emergency--police, fire, or emergency medical services (EMS).
The Department currently has 18full time officers, 35 reserve officers and 4 civilian employees.
Residents who want to ride along with a police officer may obtain a ride along application from the police department. Once it is completed and turned in at the Police Department, an Officer will contact you to set up a date and time for this worthwhile experience.
The Clarkston Police Department is committed to maintaining a professional force and department. Both officers and civilians work for the department. If anyone has a complaint regarding an officer's actions or a civilian employee’s actions, he/she is encouraged to speak with a department representative about the incident. Everyone should know they have every right to make a complaint and that no retaliation will come as a result of that complaint. The department will diligently investigate the complaint and implement corrective measures if they are warranted.
Police call takers are trained to get as much information as possible in order to determine the nature of the problem and its seriousness. For your information, while the police call taker is trying to obtain the necessary information, in most instances, they have already dispatched police vehicles to the scene. The information you provide will further assist towards your safety and that of the police officers.
The Clarkston Police department does not take reports over the phone. We feel that it is important that an Officer respond to your home or business and talk with you directly while taking a report.
It is the policy of the Department to enforce all of the laws of the State of Georgia, and by doing such, the Department is committed to effective traffic enforcement to reduce accidents, apprehend drunk drivers and to ensure a high degree of safety on the highway.
Yes, the Police Department depends on citizens calling to report crimes or suspicious activity. The police person who takes your call will ask questions about the suspicious activity to determine its nature and ask for descriptions of the people involved. Please call 911 to report suspicious activity.
State and Federal regulations prohibit officers from using the computer to retrieve information not related to investigative purposes, and the information can only be shared with law enforcement entities.
Sometimes an officer responding to an emergency call is cancelled and this is why he/she may appear to be using his/her lights to get through an intersection.
Officers generally do not actively get involved in civil disputes as they are not empowered by state statute to do so. These incidents are best dealt with by contacting an attorney or the courthouse. However, do not hesitate to call for an officer in any situation, as he/she will recommend some options available to you.
Officers are trained to utilize lighting techniques to illuminate a vehicle for the safety of themselves and the occupants of the vehicle, and it is not meant to be something that is annoying or a form of harassment.
The Department Policies are specific about an officer's driving habits, and forbids any violation of speed that is not related to police duties. Officers are allowed, as set by statute and Department Policy, to exceed at times, the speed limit only as it relates directly to a police call.
Please feel free to approach any officer and strike up a conversation... they are after all serving you, and we encourage not only the officers but the public as a whole to meet and get to know our officers, we firmly believe that the success of any Department is dependent on community support.