Mayor Kelly Girtz elaborated on public safety strategies and tactics to keep residents of Athens-Clarke County safe amidst a rapid increase in various types of crime.

 

In 2021, the crime rate per 100,000 people reached peaks of 413 for aggravated assault and 330 for motor vehicle theft, according to the Athens-Clarke County Police Department Crime Data. Aside from the increase in these two crime types, shootings have also been a type of crime that has increased in the last year. This increase in crime is concerning, considering that only five years ago the total crime rate sat below 400 per 100,000 people (Athens Clarke County Historical Crime Statistics). 

 

In August of 2022, a 17-year-old boy was shot around 11:00 p.m. near the entrance of the popular nightclub and bar, 1785. The tragedy of the incident brought forth concern from both ACC residents and UGA students, as Athens nightlife is popular among both demographics. In response, Girtz said, “we all wish to be the silver bullet idea to fix the public safety arena,” before presenting ACC solutions to the rise in aggravated assault, motor vehicle theft, and public shootings. 

 

However, there are other methods being enacted to increase the security of public safety in Athens. Girtz stated a two-fold mission which included “tackling the challenge of today and preventing the crisis of tomorrow.” The extent of this plan includes solutions such as effective policing in neighborhoods and popular areas of Downtown Athens, localized ACC ballistics reports and analysis, safe, supportive neighborhoods across the city, youth development programs, behavioral health support, and stabilizing struggling families. The implementation of these solutions has already seen a decrease in robberies, burglaries, and murders, according to Mayor Girtz. 

 

In addition to the solutions mentioned above, Mayor Girtz expressed the importance of building  “a solid network between communities” to combat current and future threats to the public safety of ACC residents. This comment followed an emphasis on collaboration between neighboring counties and communities to prevent crimes that go beyond the scope of county limits, such as roadway deaths, another rising crime type in the local area.