--- title: SR 866. Atchely, Ruth; recognize collection: bills id: 2025-2026/sr866 cite_as: SR 866, 2025-2026 Regular Session (Ga.) canonical_url: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/sr866 md_url: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/sr866.md text_url: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/sr866/text source_url: https://www.legis.ga.gov/legislation/73659 date: 2026-02-26 status: passed corpus_version: bills-2026-09-13 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/sr865.md next: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/sr867.md index: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/index.md omitted: votes and history omitted_chars: 94 omitted_url: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/sr866.md?full=1 bill_number: SR 866 session: 2025-2026 Regular Session session_slug: 2025-2026 chamber: Senate bill_type: resolution status_date: 2026-02-26 last_action: Senate Read and Adopted sponsors: - Billy Hickman - Mike Hodges - Steve Gooch - Ed Setzler - Brian Strickland text_version: Enrolled has_text: true legiscan_url: https://legiscan.com/GA/bill/SR866/2025 upstream_id: 2124839 summaries_model: claude-sonnet-5 topic_tags: - ceremonial resolution - Statesboro Police Department - law enforcement community outreach - Georgia Senate honors --- # SR 866. Atchely, Ruth; recognize ## Text Senate Resolution 866 By: Senators Hickman of the 4th, Hodges of the 3rd, Gooch of the 51st, Setzler of the 37th and Strickland of the 42nd A RESOLUTION Recognizing and commending the Statesboro Police Department's Community Information Specialist, Ruth Atchely; and for other purposes. WHEREAS, Ruth Atchely has diligently and conscientiously served with the Statesboro Police Department beginning in 2021 as a Front Counter Clerk, and since 2024, as the Community Information Specialist; and WHEREAS, the Community Information Specialist's duties include developing programs and activities that promote the agency and increase visibility of the department; speaking to groups, schools, and civic organizations about special programs and law enforcement; and responding to media requests and maintaining the department's social media networks; and WHEREAS, in 2025, Ruth designed, coordinated, and participated in more than 65 community events, engaging individuals and organizations across the community and beyond; and WHEREAS, Ruth's clever, humorous, and witty social media presence has brought attention to the Statesboro Police Department's social media pages; and WHEREAS, since January 1, 2026, Ruth's work has helped increase the Statesboro Police Department's following from 39,000 to 76,300 followers in just under a month and a half; and WHEREAS, furthermore, in just 28 days, the department's Facebook page received more than 29 million views and 39,000 content interactions from all over the world; and WHEREAS, through her social media presence, Ruth has highlighted the positive aspects of law enforcement and the Statesboro Police Department on the world stage; and WHEREAS, it is abundantly fitting and proper that this extraordinary Georgian is appropriately recognized. NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE SENATE that the members of this body recognize and commend the Statesboro Police Department's Community Information Specialist, Ruth Atchely. BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Secretary of the Senate is authorized and directed to make an appropriate copy of this resolution available for distribution to Ruth Atchely. ## 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 Ruth Atchely, the Statesboro Police Department's Community Information Specialist, for her community outreach and social media work. ### Plain-language summary This resolution is a formal statement from the Georgia Senate recognizing Ruth Atchely, who has worked for the Statesboro Police Department since 2021, first as a Front Counter Clerk and since 2024 as the department's Community Information Specialist. The resolution describes her role, which includes organizing community events, speaking to schools and civic groups, handling media requests, and running the department's social media accounts. The text credits Atchely with coordinating more than 65 community events in 2025 and with a rapid growth in the department's social media following, from 39,000 to 76,300 followers in about six weeks, along with millions of views on the department's Facebook page. The Senate resolves to commend her and directs the Secretary of the Senate to send her a copy of the resolution. It does not change any Georgia law. ### What it does - Formally recognizes and commends Ruth Atchely for her work as the Statesboro Police Department's Community Information Specialist. - Directs the Secretary of the Senate to prepare and distribute a copy of the resolution to Ruth Atchely. - Creates no new law, funding, or regulatory change; it is a ceremonial statement by the Senate. ### Who it affects This resolution directly names and honors Ruth Atchely and references the Statesboro Police Department. It has no regulatory effect on the broader public, other law enforcement agencies, or any other group in Georgia. ### Why it matters The resolution carries no legal or financial effect; it is a public, official acknowledgment by the Georgia Senate of one employee's work. Its practical significance is symbolic recognition rather than any change to how Georgians are governed or affected day to day. ### Key provisions - The whereas clauses describe Atchely's job duties and her role in coordinating over 65 community events in 2025. - The whereas clauses cite specific social media growth figures, including a jump from 39,000 to 76,300 followers and 29 million Facebook views in 28 days. - The resolved clause states the Senate's recognition and commendation of Atchely. - The final clause directs the Secretary of the Senate to make a copy available for distribution to Atchely. ## Status - Status: Passed (2026-02-26) - Last action: Senate Read and Adopted (2026-02-26) - Sponsors: Billy Hickman, Mike Hodges, Steve Gooch, Ed Setzler, Brian Strickland - Official page: https://www.legis.ga.gov/legislation/73659 > The history, votes, and amendments (94 characters) are at https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/sr866.md?full=1