North Georgia city to consider fuel charge for tickets

A north Georgia police department may have a new way to help combat the rising cost of gas for its fleet.

The city of Holly Springs in Cherokee County might be the first in Georgia to approve a fuel charge for certain types of tickets, including speeding. The proposed 12-dollar charge would also attach to violations of city ordinances.

Public safety departments across the state--and nation--are struggling with how to pay the soaring price of fuel for their vehicles.

Holly Springs police chief Ken Ball says all departments are grasping for straws in trying to keep the same level of public service.

"This gas cost is adversely affecting public safety. Ambulance services, fire departments, police departments…I don’t know what the answer is, but this is the only good answer I saw where the user pays".

Ball says the department’s annual gas budget of around 45-thousand dollars is nearly exhausted only six months into the year.

The Holly Springs City Council will consider the 12-dollar surcharge next week.

GBI steps up APD corruption investigation

Investigators say the work of exposing corruption by Atlanta police has only just begun, as two former officers face a minimum of ten years in prison for their part in the shooting death of an elderly Black woman in late 2006.

The two admitted in federal court that they lied to investigators looking into the death of 92-year old Kathryn Johnston.

Gregg Junnier and Jason Smith say there were only doing their jobs when they broke down the door to Johnston's home looking for drugs.

Both testified superior officers told them to do what they had to, to make drug busts, even if it meant planting evidence and lying.

As part of a plea agreement that keeps them out of state prison, the pair will cooperate in an ongoing investigation into corruption within the Atlanta police department.

US Attorney David Namias says the job of rooting our Atlanta's bad cops has only just begun.

"Former officers Junnier and Smith will also help us continue our very active ongoing investigation into just how wide the culture of misconduct extends within the police department. So that we can make sure that any other officer who has broken the law and violated human rights will be brought to justice."

A third officer, Arthur Tesler has been indicated by a Fulton County grand jury. Tesler remains on paid administration leave, pending further investigation.

Sentencing for Junnier and Smith will take place in late May.