News
News

GBI investigating Lithonia Police Department for alleged crime database abuse

The chief had been on paid leave since February
By
May 12, 2018

The GBI announced they are investigating the entire Lithonia Police Department just days after the past police chief was fired for allegedly misusing his power.

Police Chief Roosevelt Smith is the target of an investigation in Lithonia. (Channel 2 Action News)

Credit: Channel 2 Action News

icon to expand image

Credit: Channel 2 Action News

Chief Roosevelt Smith was fired Monday after city councilman Ric Dodd accused Smith of running his name through the Georgia Crime Information Center database to look into someone’s background, which he didn’t have the legal authority to do, Channel 2 Action News reported.

Smith was previously placed on paid administrative leave in February.

Dodd has also accused other officers of doing the same thing, Channel 2 reported. This has resulted in the GBI expanding its investigation.

Interim police chief Pserda Dickerson also asked for the GBI to investigate the department, the station reported.

The Georgia Peace Officers Standards and Training Council has started its own investigation into certain police officers’ actions, Channel 2 reported.

In other news:

Alpharetta police originally suspended Officer James Legg and opened an internal investigation into what happened. Legg resigned Friday afternoon, according to his lawyer.

About the Author

Zachary Hansen, a Georgia native, covers economic development and commercial real estate for the AJC. He's been with the newspaper since 2018 and enjoys diving into complex stories that affect people's lives.

Follow Zachary Hansen on facebookFollow Zachary Hansen on twitter
More Stories

Keep Reading

One reader is asking the AJC to help her find cottage cheese made by Mayfield. (Ihar Balaikin/Dreamstime/TNS)

Credit: TNS

Where can I find it?

AJC readers are looking for help finding actual toothpaste (not gel) and Mayfield cottage cheese.

Robert Banks, longtime film, TV actor, dies

Robert Banks, longtime film, TV actor dies

Teamsters trash collectors in Alpharetta area end months-long strike

A labor contract struck in Georgia is the final deal to end strikes by local Teamsters unions that started in July at several Republic Services locations across the country.

The Latest

ALS is a terminal diagnosis, and Hopkins' energy, drive and hope have astounded his friends.

Credit: Robb Cohen/AJC

Sweet Tea: How andouille do?

1h ago

High school scoreboard: Friday night’s football action around the state

Where can I find it?

Featured

Members of the conversion crew take a break as the main scoreboard is lowered to the floor to be worked on as the arena gets ready for the next concert at State Farm Arena, Thursday, October 2, 2025, in Atlanta. The crew was working on creating a stage for the Friday, Oct. 3 Maxwell concert. (Jason Getz/AJC)

Credit: Jason Getz / Jason.Getz@ajc.com

Inside the team that transforms State Farm Arena overnight, from games to concerts

State Farm Arena's conversion team assembles and reassembles the basketball court, constructs and deconstructs stages, arranges and rearranges floor seating for each event.

Some ‘No Kings’ protests may snarl traffic Saturday. Here’s how to get around.

"No Kings" protests are scheduled within metro Atlanta Saturday, and some have the potential to tie up traffic. Here's how to get around some of the larger ones.

Georgia students still outpacing national average on ACT. See results by school.

Find out how your child's school and district performed on the college entrance exam.