Barnesville Police Department recertified by state; officers recognized for February response

At the June 4 council meeting Chief Craig Cooper introduced Griffin Police Chief Mike Yates, who presented the state recertification. Chief Yates noted the department first became state certified in 2015 and emphasized the recertification required demonstrating continued compliance with 130 standards; only 123 of more than 600 law enforcement agencies in Georgia were state certified at that time.

Chief Cooper praised officers Sergeant Freddie Oates, Sergeant Mark Evans, Officer Maria Gebelein and Officer Michael Mceachern for their professional response to a dangerous incident on Feb. 20, 2018. The council publicly thanked the department for its work. Minutes later in the year record the promotion of School Resource Officer Belinda Penamon to sergeant.