Barrow Journal

Winder Police Chief Stanley Rodgers is leaving the department.

Before the city administration made an official announcement, sources close to the department told the Barrow Journal on Thursday afternoon that the chief's last day would be Friday, Jan. 21.

The information was confirmed near the close of business Thursday afternoon, when in response to an open-records request, city clerk Sabrina Wall provided a copy of the chief's Jan. 19 letter telling Mayor Chip Thompson that he was retiring and would leave in two days.

The letter does not provide a reason for the chief's sudden retirement. However, sources said the city's new administrator, Donald Toms, had been critical of the chief's management of the police department.
[Full Story »] 

Local, state and federal law-enforcement officers on Monday conducted a large roundup of Barrow County drug suspects, making 41 arrests.

A total of 100 arrest warrants were issued for in connection with drug or domestic violence charges, and investigators are searching for the remaining 59 suspects, according to a sheriff's office press release.

The arrests were on top of another 80 suspects arrested during a six-month investigation by the Barrow County Sheriff's Office and the Auburn Police Department that involved nearly 200 purchases of illegal drugs. More than $525,000 in illegal drugs were confiscated during the investigation.

[Full Story »]