Warner Robins police build agility course to get more officers on the road
In 2020, the department grew their narcotics, criminal investigation and traffic units by at least one officer each. They aim to keep growing the patrol unit Author: Sarah Hammond Updated: 7:28 PM EDT May 7, 2021
WARNER ROBINS, Ga. Some Warner Robins police officers were promoted last year, and Chief John Wagner says it is all part of his plan to grow the department.
In 2020, the department grew their narcotics, criminal investigation, and traffic units by at least one officer each. We do want to make sure as officers they do have an endgame and they do have the chance to promote and have upward mobility.
Warner Robins sees spike in drug overdose calls in April
The Warner Robins Police Department responded to 18 overdose calls in April. On average, they respond to five per month. Author: Sarah Hammond Updated: 7:54 PM EDT May 5, 2021
WARNER ROBINS, Ga. Warner Robins has seen a spike in drug overdoses in the last month.
Police Chief John Wagner says they responded to 18 overdose calls in April. That is more than three times higher than their average of five.
That trend lines up with CDC data that says more than 87,000 drug overdose deaths were reported in the 12-month period ending last September.
They say that is the highest number of overdose deaths ever recorded in a year.
Back in 2019, Wagner said one of the first things he wanted to work on was hiring.
His goal? 155 total officers. We re not close to that right now, he says. People are not signing up to be police officers. You can t go and get something that s not there.
Back in July 2018, the department had 106 officers.
In August 2019, shortly after Wagner officially took over, they had around 115 officers. The city budget allowed for 120.
In September 2020, they had 125.
At the beginning of 2021, Wagner says they had 117 sworn officers, with around eight in various points in the training process. You gotta get them through the state course before you can get them here as a trainee. You re looking at a year before you can make any kind of difference getting somebody on the road.
The suspect has been identified as 27-year-old Derik Edward Jones Author: 13WMAZ Staff Updated: 8:15 PM EST January 22, 2021
WARNER ROBINS, Ga.
UPDATE, 8:45 p.m.:
According to the Georgia Bureau of Investigation, Warner Robins Police Department got a call about a suspect in custody for shoplifting at the Walmart located at 2720 Watson Boulevard. After officers made it to the scene, they talked with store personnel about the situation when they were alerted to another person breaking into cars in the parking lot. The shoplifting suspect was not involved in the break-in situation.
Officers saw the suspect, identified as 27-year-old Derik Edward Jones, who began to run away toward the TJ Maxx and Bealls Outlet stores. He started shooting at the officers, who then returned fire, hitting Jones.