Lavonia Police Honor Two Officers

Two Lavonia Police officers are being honored for their outstanding police work.

At the Lavonia City Council meeting Monday evening, Lavonia Police chief Bruce Carlisle presented officer Jason Roach the Golden Shield Honors Award for 2013 from the Georgia Chapter of Mothers Against Drunk Driving.

Roach received the award for making 30 DUI arrests in Lavonia last year.  Officer Roach has been on the force for just two years and still considered a rookie, but Carlisle says his work on traffic patrol is exemplary.

“Officer Roach excels in catching impaired drivers,” Carlisle said. “He keeps our roads safe. He’s a fine Christian man who is an asset to the department and we’re certainly proud of him.”

In 2013, Roach was also voted by his peers as the Lavonia Police Officer of the Year.

Also receiving the Department’s Meritorious Performance Medal Monday was Chief Investigator Melissa Collins for her outstanding work in investigating the armed robbery of North Georgia Credit Union in Lavonia in 2011.

All four suspects in that case were arrested, convicted, and are now awaiting sentencing.  Carlisle said Collins has been an officer with Lavonia Police since 2005 and has worked her way up to lead investigator.

 “In 2008, I transferred Collins to the Investigation Division where she underwent all aspects of crime scene investigation,” Carlisle said. “She is a state-certified crime scene technician. She is one of the very few in the circuit who is a certified interview of children who have been victims of sexual assault.”

Carlisle said Investigator Collins works in other areas for the department such as writing and applying for grants.