Stockbridge to hold town hall meeting concerning city police services

The city of Stockbridge has announced a town hall meeting to discuss city police services. The possibility of starting a city police department has been often mentioned during discussions about the city’s upcoming FY 2021 budget.

The meeting will be held in a virtual format on Tuesday, December 8, at 6 pm. Those interested in attending may do so at the time of the event using the Zoom instructions below:

Police services inside the city are currently handled by Henry County Police Department. Stockbridge residents are included in the county’s police services special district — levying a millage rate of 1.824 mills — to offset the expense. If Stockbridge formed a city police department, they would be removed from the special service district.

In February 2020, the council was presented a report completed by the University of Georgia’s Carl Vinson Institute regarding the proposal for city police services. The cost for an estimated 57 officers, equipment, weapons, insurance and benefits and a pension plan for a Stockbridge police force was estimated at approximately $5.3 million.