Local & State Headlines

ADP deputy chiefs center of gun debate

• APD officials say that a 2004 federal law exempts two deputy chiefs from state laws concerning carrying concealed weapons.

J.D. Sumner

ALBANY — An official with the state agency that regulates police training said Friday that two newly hired deputy chiefs with the Albany Police Department won’t be certified peace officers in Georgia until they complete Georgia training requirements, while department officials say the officers can still carry their weapons under federal law.

Ryan Powell, the director of operations for Georgia’s Peace Officer Standards and Training Council, said Friday that regardless of prior certifications in other states, two new deputy APD police chiefs will have to undergo training courses in Georgia.

The chiefs, Spencer Rozier and Stephen Haynes, were both hired by the Albany Police Department in February as a part of the department’s reorganization.

Rozier, a 20-year-veteran of the Palm Beach, Fla., department, and Haynes, a 20-year-officer with the New York Police Department, were both certified in their respective states before accepting their jobs in Georgia, but according to Powell they still have to learn the ropes here before they are allowed to become peace officers.

“Regardless of the states they come from, officers must meet training requirements to gain knowledge of Georgia law and liability areas like firearm training,” Powell said. “Since they haven’t graduated from a Georgia academy, they aren’t peace officers.”

Powell said that officers are required to take 200 hours worth of training courses that cover a variety of topics.

APD Spokesperson Phyllis Banks said that, after consulting with the Dougherty District Attorney’s Office, the department has taken the stance that the deputy chiefs are “in compliance with both state and federal laws which pertain to qualified officers carrying a weapon prior to being POST certified.”

Specifically, department officials cite a 2004 federal law known as the Law Enforcement Officer’s Safety Act, which they say exempts qualified officers from state requirements for carrying a concealed weapon.

“Deputy Chief Haynes and Deputy Chief Rozier are not performing duties that require arrest powers. Both have passed the entrance exam for the academy, and it is anticipated that they will attend the September session of the academy,” Banks said.

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