--- title: SR 481. Post 4 Villa Rica; recognize collection: bills id: 2025-2026/sr481 cite_as: SR 481, 2025-2026 Regular Session (Ga.) canonical_url: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/sr481 md_url: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/sr481.md text_url: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/sr481/text source_url: https://www.legis.ga.gov/legislation/71727 date: 2025-03-28 status: passed corpus_version: bills-2026-08-28 license: Public record of the Georgia General Assembly, via LegiScan; see about.md publisher: Georgia Commons, an independent project of Georgia Civic Data. Not the State of Georgia. Not legal advice. up: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026.md previous: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/sr480.md next: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/sr482.md index: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/index.md omitted: votes and history omitted_chars: 94 omitted_url: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/sr481.md?full=1 bill_number: SR 481 session: 2025-2026 Regular Session session_slug: 2025-2026 chamber: Senate bill_type: resolution status_date: 2025-03-28 last_action: Senate Read and Adopted sponsors: - Timothy Bearden - Billy Hickman - Bill Cowsert - Drew Echols - Kay Kirkpatrick - John Albers - Matt Brass - Randy Robertson - Sam Watson - Chuck Hufstetler - Carden Summers - Max Burns - Ben Watson - Chuck Payne - Frank Ginn - Clint Dixon - Brandon Beach - Ricky Williams - John Kennedy - Jason Anavitarte - Bo Hatchett text_version: Enrolled has_text: true legiscan_url: https://legiscan.com/GA/bill/SR481/2025 upstream_id: 2016121 summaries_model: claude-sonnet-5 topic_tags: - Georgia State Patrol - law enforcement recognition - Villa Rica - legislative resolution --- # SR 481. Post 4 Villa Rica; recognize ## Text 25 LC 112 3524 Senate Resolution 481 By: Senators Bearden of the 30th, Hickman of the 4th, Cowsert o f the 46th, Echols of the 49th, Kirkpatrick of the 32nd and others A RESOLUTION Recognizing and commending Post 4 Villa Rica, recipient of the 2024 Post of the Year1 Award; and for other purposes.2 WHEREAS, Post 4 Villa Rica has recently been named the 2024 Pos t of the Year in3 recognition of its exceptional performance, remarkable leadersh ip, and unwavering4 commitment to the mission of the Georgia State Patrol; and5 WHEREAS, in 2024, Post 4 remained the busiest post within the Georgia State Patrol based6 on call volume, answering 6,644 calls for service while simulta neously managing staffing7 shortages with In-Troop detachments; and8 WHEREAS, Post 4 personnel demonstrated exceptional enforcement activity by conducting9 17,343 traffic stops, issuing 12,273 citations and 15,465 warni ngs, arresting 335 impaired10 drivers, and investigating 4,900 crashes; and11 WHEREAS, under the leadership of Post Commander SFC Justin Hogan, Post 4 identified12 a significant operational trend regarding delayed crash respons e times caused by limited13 staffing and competing call demands, which caused 1,452 call cancellations by local agencies14 due to extended response times; and15 S. R. 481 - 1 - 25 LC 112 3524 WHEREAS, SFC Hogan utilized crash data analytics from SmartData to examine crash16 trends in Carroll and Douglas counties and collaborated with lo cal agency leadership to17 develop a comprehensive solution that would increase public safety and improve interagency18 response; and19 WHEREAS, Post 4's NCO staff implemented a modified schedule that strategically increased20 the number of working Troopers during peak crash and fatality p eriods, allowing for21 enhanced crash response and more equitable distribution of call volume among Troopers; and22 WHEREAS, as a direct result of the modified schedule, Post 4 saw a 26 percent increase in23 Trooper presence during peak weekdays; a 35 percent increase in crashes investigated; a 7124 percent decrease in call cancellations by local agencies; significant increases in traffic stops,25 citations, and warnings; and a 22 percent decrease in crash fatalities; and26 WHEREAS, through effective interagency collaboration and community support, Post 4 has27 additionally secured local donations to equip most of its personnel with PepperBall launchers28 and ensured that each Post in Troop D has at least one Trooper equipped with this non-lethal29 option to enhance officer safety and de-escalation efforts; and30 WHEREAS, Post 4 is known for its strong relationships with surrounding law enforcement31 agencies and is frequently called upon due to the reliability, professionalism, and high32 standards exhibited by its personnel; and33 WHEREAS, Post 4's outstanding leadership team further includes Assistant Post34 Commanders SGT Jay Trawick, SGT Lindsey Rampy, CPL Mark Campbell, and CPL Philip35 Ellis, all of whom have played a pivotal role in guiding the Post toward excellence; and36 S. R. 481 - 2 - 25 LC 112 3524 WHEREAS, the dedicated Troopers of Post 4—Avery McWhorter, Phil ip Allen, Jodie37 Crews, Jared Davis, Ashton Curtis, Corey Wells Jr., Cannon Hick s, Troy Carpenter, Chet38 Long, Leighton Ivey, Trevor Hargrove, Michael Moores, and Trey Thomas—have39 demonstrated tremendous commitment to proactive enforcement and public service; and40 WHEREAS, Post Administrative Assistants Jessica Kruse and Morgan Moran have provided41 invaluable support to ensure the Post's operations function smoothly and efficiently; and42 WHEREAS, Post 4 Villa Rica's leadership, teamwork, and exemplary enforcement activity43 have set the highest standard for service across the State of G eorgia, and it is abundantly44 fitting and proper that its staff be appropriately honored during this special time.45 NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE SENATE that the members of this body46 recognize and commend Post 4 Villa Rica for receiving the 2024 Post of the Year Award and47 extend sincere best wishes for continued success.48 BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Secretary of the Senate is authorized and directed49 to make an appropriate copy of this resolution available for distribution to Post 4 Villa Rica.50 S. R. 481 - 3 - ## Summaries written by Georgia Commons The following was written by claude-sonnet-5 from the text above and is not part of the resolution. Quote the text, not the summary. A Georgia Senate resolution honors Post 4 Villa Rica of the Georgia State Patrol for winning the 2024 Post of the Year Award, citing its enforcement record and reduced crash response times. ### Plain-language summary This is a ceremonial resolution from the Georgia Senate, not a change to state law. It recognizes Post 4 Villa Rica of the Georgia State Patrol for being named the 2024 Post of the Year, describing the post's high call volume, traffic enforcement numbers, and crash investigations during that year. The resolution credits Post Commander SFC Justin Hogan and the post's staff with using crash data analysis to redesign work schedules, which the text says increased trooper presence during peak periods and reduced crash fatalities and call cancellations. It also notes the post equipped personnel with non-lethal PepperBall launchers through local donations. The Senate resolves to commend the post and directs the Secretary of the Senate to provide a copy of the resolution to Post 4 Villa Rica for distribution. ### What it does - Formally recognizes and commends Post 4 Villa Rica of the Georgia State Patrol for receiving the 2024 Post of the Year Award. - Directs the Secretary of the Senate to prepare and distribute a copy of the resolution to Post 4 Villa Rica. - Extends the Senate's best wishes for the post's continued success but creates no legal obligations or funding. - Names specific commanders, troopers, and administrative staff at the post as part of the formal recognition. ### Who it affects The resolution directly names and honors the personnel of Post 4 Villa Rica of the Georgia State Patrol, including its commander, assistant commanders, troopers, and administrative assistants, as well as the Secretary of the Senate, who must distribute a copy. ### Why it matters The resolution has no effect on Georgia law, funding, or agency operations. Its practical effect is limited to public recognition: a formal Senate statement honoring the post's staff and documenting the enforcement and safety statistics cited in the text. ### Key provisions - Recites statistics on Post 4's 2024 activity, including 6,644 calls for service, 17,343 traffic stops, and 335 impaired-driving arrests. - Describes a schedule change developed using SmartData crash analytics that the text says cut crash fatalities by 22 percent and call cancellations by 71 percent. - Notes that local donations equipped most Post 4 personnel with PepperBall non-lethal launchers. - Resolves that the Senate recognizes and commends Post 4 Villa Rica for the 2024 Post of the Year Award. - Directs the Secretary of the Senate to make a copy of the resolution available for distribution to the post. ## Status - Status: Passed (2025-03-28) - Last action: Senate Read and Adopted (2025-03-28) - Sponsors: Timothy Bearden, Billy Hickman, Bill Cowsert, Drew Echols, Kay Kirkpatrick, John Albers, Matt Brass, Randy Robertson, Sam Watson, Chuck Hufstetler, Carden Summers, Max Burns, Ben Watson, Chuck Payne, Frank Ginn, Clint Dixon, Brandon Beach, Ricky Williams, John Kennedy, Jason Anavitarte, Bo Hatchett - Official page: https://www.legis.ga.gov/legislation/71727 > The history, votes, and amendments (94 characters) are at https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/sr481.md?full=1