Month: February 2012

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Law & Order

Former DeKalb officer indicted for tipping off drug dealers

February 4, 2012 Express Telegraph

A former DeKalb County police officer and reserve officer with the Clarkston Police Department has been indicted on a federal charge of unlawfully accessing government databases and tipping off drug dealers to a pending federal search warrant. While Gabriel Hoskins III, 39, of Atlanta, worked as a courtesy officer at an Atlanta apartment complex, he befriended “certain individuals” involved in trafficking marijuana, according to federal authorities. Twice, at the request of the traffickers, Hoskins requested names

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Commentary

Op-Ed: Busy week in the Georgia Senate

February 4, 2012 Bill Hamrick

ATLANTA — As the 2012 legislative session progresses, there is a growing number of bills being sent to the Senate floor. We are now at a point where it is not uncommon to see five or six bills in the well on any given day. In an effort to eliminate government waste and streamline operations, the Senate passed SB 223 this week. This bill is also known as the Georgia Government Accountability Act.  Often referred

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Law & Order

Talbotton chief admits to making false statements

February 2, 2012 Express Telegraph

The former police chief of Talbotton pleaded guilty this week to a federal charge of making false statements, according to federal authorities. Michael Howard, 43, admitted that in June 2011, he lied to a federal agent when he denied knowing a known drug dealer had transported narcotics through Talbot County, the FBI said. “Former Chief Howard chose to lie to federal investigators during a broad investigation wherein four other area law enforcement officials have already