City manager to make decision on policeman’s job

ALBANY, Ga. — A decision on the employment of an Albany Police Department officer with a history of on-duty vehicle crashes rests with Albany City Manager James Taylor.

Police Cpl. Gary Price was recommended for termination after a June 30 on-duty crash that injured five residents in a Ford F-150 pickup.

City officials held a hearing involving Price and his attorney on Monday about whether the city would retain Price as an employee. Taylor must decide within 10 business days of the hearing.

“I have more data to look at,” Taylor said Wednesday. “I’ll make the decision by next week, Thursday or Friday.”

Price has a lengthy history of on-duty crashes. That history includes 11 injuries, two deaths and a $525,000 liability payment.

According to records from the city attorney’s office, while with the Albany-Dougherty Drug Unit or the city police department, Price has crashed six patrol vehicles. He gave chase on three occasions attempting to catch suspects who later crashed into other drivers.

A chronology, according to the records:

• December 1999, patrol car wreck, poor judgment and written reprimand.
• Dec. 13, 2000, patrol car crash, poor judgment, one-day suspension.
• March 2005, two wrecks, first unavoidable, second poor judgment, written reprimand.
• October 2005, chased suspect who crashed into a woman in another car.
• June 2007, high-speed chase of drug suspect Bobby Jones. Jones lost control and smashed head-on into Billy Klewitz, killing them both. No discipline action.
• November 2007, refusing orders to back off, Price chased a suspect who crashed into a pregnant driver with two children passengers. Discipline: 15-day suspension.
• December 2010, patrol car wreck, ruled unavoidable.
• June 2012, Price ran a red light, case remains under investigation while Price is assigned desk duty.