Metro Atlanta
Metro Atlanta

One chart that shows just how badly Gwinnett PD needs more cops

File photo, courtesy of Gwinnett County Police Department.
File photo, courtesy of Gwinnett County Police Department.
By
Sept 1, 2017

It’s not exactly a secret: the Gwinnett County Police Department needs more officers, and it needs them now.

The department, Georgia's third-largest, has struggled with attrition for years now and currently has more than 100 vacancies.

MORE: Gwinnett police helicopter crashes at airport

But just how bad is the staffing issue?

As shown in the chart below, Gwinnett County police has far fewer officers per 1,000 residents when compared to other departments in metro Atlanta. Meeting its own minimum recommendations on that ratio would require hiring nearly 200 more officers.

The good news, though, is help may be on the way.

ExploreVisit myAJC.com to read about a possible raise for Gwinnett County’s police officers, what kind of effect their comparatively low pay has had on service and what the future might hold.
The Gwinnett County Police Department's officer-to-1,000-residents ratio is far below its counterparts in metro Atlanta. (via Gwinnett County Police Department budget presentation)
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About the Author

Before taking over the AJC's Sports Daily newsletter, Tyler Estep spent two years writing the A.M. ATL newsletter. A Gwinnett County native and University of Georgia graduate, he has been with the AJC since 2015 and previously worked as a reporter on the breaking news, hyperlocal and local government teams.

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