VPD Hosts Community Forum, Aug. 29

The Valdosta Police Department will host its second Community Forum of 2017 on Tuesday, Aug. 29, from 6 to 8 p.m., at the Christ Gospel Missionary Baptist Church, at 1402 East Hill Avenue, in Valdosta. All community members and leaders in South Georgia are invited.

The department started the quarterly forums in 2013 with local civil rights groups, to include the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) and Southern Christian Leadership Conference (SCLC). In 2014, the forums were expanded to all members of the public to include members of civil rights groups.

The purpose of the forums is to:

  • Discuss any concerns the community may have with the VPD;
  • Discuss concerns regarding the issues in the United States between law enforcement and the community to include recent incidents;
  • Discuss crime issues in Valdosta to include crime prevention efforts;
  • Provide the community with better access to the Chief of Police and his command staff;
  • Share ideas with the department in areas to include police/community relations and crime prevention;
  • Share Valdosta Police 2017 Complaints and status;
  • Share Valdosta Police 2017 Use of Force;
  • Share Valdosta Police 2017 Vehicle Pursuits;
  • Share Valdosta 2017 Crime YTD to include any high-profile cases and arrests;
  • Share Community Policing Efforts YTD;
  • Share Police Recruiting efforts;
  • Address any concerns regarding the Minneapolis shooting of an unarmed female, and can be done to avoid this in Valdosta; and
  • Address any other topics the community wishes to discuss
  • Share