Poulan, Georgia

Last updated

Poulan
City
Poulan City Hall Police Station.JPG
Poulan City Hall and Police Station
Worth County Georgia Incorporated and Unincorporated areas Poulan Highlighted.svg
Location in Worth County and the state of Georgia
Coordinates: 31°30′49″N83°47′28″W / 31.51361°N 83.79111°W / 31.51361; -83.79111
Country United States
State Georgia
County Worth
Area
[1]
 • Total
1.67 sq mi (4.33 km2)
 • Land1.67 sq mi (4.33 km2)
 • Water0.00 sq mi (0.00 km2)
Elevation
381 ft (116 m)
Population
 (2020)
 • Total
760
 • Density454.27/sq mi (175.36/km2)
Time zone UTC-5 (Eastern (EST))
 • Summer (DST) UTC-4 (EDT)
ZIP code
31781
Area code 229
FIPS code 13-62496 [2]
GNIS feature ID0321100 [3]
Website www.cityofpoulan.com

Poulan is a city in Worth County, Georgia, United States. The population was 780 in 2020. Poulan is part of the Albany, Georgia metropolitan area.

Contents

Poulan is notable for its police department's speed trap tactics from 2006 to 2012. [4] [5] [6] In 2009, Poulan's small police force generated nearly $900,000 from fines and fees, a number comparable to a city 30 times its size and due to the charges and fees being more than most cities. The per capita revenue from fines and fees is $1,019.15. [7]

History

The Georgia General Assembly incorporated Poulan as a town in 1889. [8] The city was named for Judge W. A. Poulan. [9] The remnants of what was once a bank and pharmacy are still standing on Broad Street. [10] Poulan is also home to the only two historical registered properties in Worth County; the Poulan Library and Possum Poke. [10] Poulan was settled in 1877 along the Brunswick and Albany railroad. [10]

Library, on the National Register of Historic Places Library, Poulan, GA, US.jpg
Library, on the National Register of Historic Places

Speed trap

The Poulan Police Department has been featured in numerous articles by investigative journalists, most notably for its speed trap tactics since 2009. [11] [12] [13] The city attorney; former Albany, Georgia mayor Tommy Coleman [14] has repeatedly defended the enforcement tactics, as well as the Poulan and Warwick Police Departments. [15] [16]

Between 2008 and 2012, Poulan is estimated to have received $1,676,402.80 (a per-capita amount of $2,012.49) from their Police Department's tactics inside the Poulan city limits on U.S. Route 82 (GA State Route 520). [17] Residents of Poulan have publicly voiced their concern over their police department's tactics multiple times with department leadership specifically denying quotas for summons and citations for traffic related offenses. [18] [19]

In August 2014, a local resident of Poulan placed a sign that warned drivers traveling on U.S. Route 82 (GA State Route 520) of the speed trap tactics. A local NBC/ABC affiliate, WALB, featured a story on the resident who claimed that Poulan Police Officers were given specific quotas. Poulan Police Chief Larry Whisenant, [20] explicitly refuted this claim and denied that any officers were given quotas [18] for speeding citations. In February 2015 the sign was stolen from its placement along U.S. Route 82 (GA State Route 520). [21]

In December 2023, local NBC/ABC affiliate WALB produced a report about the Poulan Police Department and showcased the speed trap tactics that the Police Department continues to use. [22] The report calculated that the Poulan Police Department produced more income than the cost of the agency to the city's budget. [22] Poulan Police commanders were specifically asked for documents showing the amount of income received from speeding related citations. According to the article, Poulan "declined to comment". [22] According to Georgia law, a county or municipal law enforcement agency's budget may not exceed 35% of its annual budget from speeding related fines. [23]

In July 2024, local NBC/ABC affiliate WALB produced another report on both the Poulan and Warwick Police Departments. [16] City attorney Tommy Coleman defended the City of Poulan and the Police Department in an interview, claiming that Poulan's budget percentage from speed enforcement was at 22% for the years 2023 to 2024. [16] Worth County Sheriff Don Whitaker also defended the City of Poulan in an interview he participated in for the report. [16] Disturbingly, Worth County officials (including a member of the County Commission) and City of Poulan officials, admitted that Poulan required the revenue from speed related citations because their tax base was so small. [16]

Controversy

In December 2007, then Police Chief Angie Schlosser, was fired from the Poulan Police Department after the city claimed she had performed an illegal background investigation into a city council member. [24] While Schlosser denied the allegations, she stated that there were concerns about the background and supposed criminal past of the council member. [25] Despite the seriousness of the allegation, Schlosser was never charged with a crime, and no outside investigation was conducted. [25]

In September 2012, then Poulan Mayor, Dustin Grubbs, was arrested in Dougherty County and charged with felony possession of various narcotic prescription pills [26] including oxycodone, oxycontin, and two different mixtures of Vicodin in different dosages with a total prescription pill count of 57. The arrest showcased the continued synthetic opioid epidemic in the United States. [26] Despite the charges, Grubbs remained the Mayor of Poulan until his death in October 2020. [27]

In August 2017, Rosemary Jones, a police officer employed by Poulan Police, was arrested and charged by the Georgia Bureau of Investigation (along with her husband) with two counts of felony cruelty to children in the first degree, two counts of aggravated assault, and one count of felony false imprisonment. [28] [29] Their arrest made national [30] [31] [32] [33] and international news. [34] Despite the arrest, Jones was retained by the Poulan Police Department, and eventually promoted to captain. [20]

COVID-19

During the COVID-19 epidemic, Worth County Sheriff Don Whitaker deputized members of the Poulan Police Department so that county ordinances specifically related to COVID-19 regulations could be enforced by Poulan Police Officers inside the city limits of Poulan, GA. [35]

Geography

Poulan is located at 31°30′49″N83°47′28″W / 31.51361°N 83.79111°W / 31.51361; -83.79111 (31.513739, -83.791041). [36] According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 1.7 square miles (4.3 km2), all land.

Demographics

Historical population
CensusPop.Note%±
1900 474—
1910 65237.6%
1920 586−10.1%
1930 6114.3%
1940 6709.7%
1950 75011.9%
1960 736−1.9%
1970 7664.1%
1980 8186.8%
1990 96217.6%
2000 946−1.7%
2010 851−10.0%
2020 760−10.7%
U.S. Decennial Census [37]
1850-1870 [38] 1870-1880 [39]
1890-1910 [40] 1920-1930 [41]
1940 [42] 1950 [43] 1960 [44]
1970 [45] 1980 [46] 1990 [47]
2000 [48] 2010 [49]

As of the census [2] of 2000, there were 946 people, 365 households, and 273 families residing in the city. By 2020, its population declined to 760.

Notable people

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Worth County, Georgia</span> County in Georgia, United States

Worth County is a county located in the south-central portion of the U.S. state of Georgia. As of the 2020 census, the population was 20,784. The county seat is Sylvester. Worth County is included in the Albany, GA metropolitan statistical area.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Oglethorpe County, Georgia</span> County in Georgia, United States

Oglethorpe County is a county located in the northeastern part of the U.S. state of Georgia. As of the 2020 census, the population was 14,825. The county seat is Lexington.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">DeKalb County, Georgia</span> County in Georgia, United states

DeKalb County is located in the north central portion of the U.S. state of Georgia. As of the 2020 census, the population was 764,382, making it Georgia's fourth-most populous county. Its county seat is Decatur.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Hampton, Florida</span> City in Florida, United States

Hampton is a city in Bradford County, Florida, United States. It is located in North Florida. The population was 432 at the 2020 census.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Braselton, Georgia</span> Town in Georgia, United States

Braselton is a town in Barrow, Gwinnett, Hall, and Jackson counties in the U.S. state of Georgia, approximately 43 miles (69 km) northeast of Atlanta. As of the 2020 census, the town had a population of 13,403, and in 2023 the estimated population was 15,538.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">College Park, Georgia</span> City in Georgia, United States

College Park is a city in Fulton and Clayton counties, Georgia, United States, adjacent to the southern boundary of the city of Atlanta. As of the 2020 census, the population was 13,930.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Albany, Georgia</span> City in Georgia, United States

Albany is a city in the U.S. state of Georgia. Located on the Flint River, it is the county seat of Dougherty County, and is the sole incorporated city in that county. Located in Southwest Georgia, it is the principal city of the Albany metropolitan area. The city's population was 68,089 in 2020.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Blakely, Georgia</span> City in Georgia, United States

Blakely is a city in and the county seat of Early County, Georgia, United States. As of 2020, its population was 5,371. It is located approximately halfway between Columbus and Tallahassee, Florida on U.S. Route 27.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sandy Springs, Georgia</span> City in Georgia, United States

Sandy Springs is a city in northern Fulton County, Georgia, United States, and a suburb of Atlanta. The city's population was 108,080 at the 2020 census, making it Georgia's 7th most populous city. It is the site of several corporate headquarters, including UPS, Newell Brands, Inspire Brands, Focus Brands, Cox Enterprises, and Mercedes-Benz USA's corporate offices.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Hartwell, Georgia</span> City in Georgia, United States

Hartwell is a city in Hart County, Georgia, United States. The population was 4,469 at the 2010 census. The city is the county seat of Hart County.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ludowici, Georgia</span> American city

Ludowici is a city in Long County, Georgia, United States. The population was 1,703 at the 2010 Census and an estimated 2,221 in 2018. The city is the county seat of Long County. It is a part of the Hinesville-Fort Stewart metropolitan statistical area (MSA).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Waycross, Georgia</span> City in Georgia, USA

Waycross is the county seat of and only incorporated city in Ware County in the U.S. state of Georgia. The population was 13,942 in the 2020 census.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">De Soto, Georgia</span> City in Georgia, United States

De Soto is a city in Sumter County, Georgia, United States. The population was 214 at the 2000 census. It is part of the Americus micropolitan statistical area.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">St. George, Missouri</span> Place in Missouri, United States

St. George or Saint George is an unincorporated community, census-designated place (CDP), and former incorporated city in St. Louis County, Missouri, United States. The population was 1,337 at the 2010 census.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Estelline, Texas</span> Town in Hall County, Texas, United States

Estelline is a town located in Hall County, Texas, United States. The population at the 2020 census was 121. In 2012, Estelline was ranked #1 in a National Motorists Association listing of its "Worst Speed Trap Cities" in North America. Estelline often refers to itself as the "Town of Estelline", with a "Town Hall" and a "Town Council", rather than the customary "city" label. However, under Texas law, all incorporated municipalities are considered to be cities.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Patton Village, Texas</span> City in Texas, United States

Patton Village is a city in Montgomery County, Texas, United States. The population was 1,647 at the 2020 census. It is located in Greater Houston.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Statenville, Georgia</span> Place in Georgia, United States

Statenville is an unincorporated community and the county seat of Echols County, Georgia, United States. It was formerly a census-designated place (CDP) with a population of 1,040 at the 2010 census. The ZIP code is 31648, and the area code 229.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Law enforcement in the United States</span> Major component of the American criminal justice system

As of 2024, more than 1,280,000 sworn law enforcement officers are serving in the United States. About 137,000 of those officers work for federal law enforcement agencies.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">South Fulton, Georgia</span> City in Georgia, United States

South Fulton is a city in Fulton County, Georgia, United States in the Atlanta metropolitan area. It was incorporated in 2017 from parts of southwest Fulton County and includes the communities of Red Oak, Cooks Crossing, Stonewall, Fife, Ben Hill, Sandtown, Cliftondale, Ono, Cedar Grove, Boat Rock/Dry Pond, Maude, Lester, Enon, Welcome All, Peters Woods, and part of Campbellton. As of 2020, it had a population of 107,436, making it the state's eighth-largest city in population. As of 2020, South Fulton has the highest African American percentage of any U.S. city over 100,000, surpassing highly African American cities such as Detroit and Jackson.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Albany metropolitan area, Georgia</span> Metropolitan statistical area in Georgia, United States

The Albany metropolitan area, officially the Albany metropolitan statistical area, as defined by the United States Census Bureau and U.S. Office of Management and Budget, is a metropolitan statistical area consisting of five counties in the U.S. state of Georgia: Baker, Dougherty, Lee, Terrell, and Worth. Located in within the region of Southwest Georgia, the metropolitan area had a 2023 census-estimated population of 145,508.

References

  1. ↑ "2020 U.S. Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved December 18, 2021.
  2. 1 2 "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau . Retrieved January 31, 2008.
  3. ↑ "US Board on Geographic Names". United States Geological Survey. October 25, 2007. Retrieved January 31, 2008.
  4. ↑ Simmons, Andria (October 22, 2014). "Some rural Georgia towns policing for profit". The Atlanta Journal-Constitution. Archived from the original on January 13, 2020. Retrieved January 13, 2020. Take the example of Poulan (pronounced PO-lan), where officials claim to have seen the error of their ways. The town of 833 took in $1.67 million in ticket revenue between 2008 and 2012, but the income has fallen steadily since then....In the case of Poulan, GDOT raised the limit after receiving numerous complaints about it being a speed trap, Dale said.
  5. ↑ "'Speed Trap' sign stirs up Poulan area". walb.com. August 5, 2014. Archived from the original on January 13, 2020.
  6. ↑ Smith, Romney (July 17, 2013). "FOX 31 investigates: Are there speed traps in Poulan?". WFXL. Archived from the original on January 13, 2020. Retrieved January 13, 2020.
  7. ↑ "Georgia Department of Community Affairs, Office of Research: 2009 Municipal Revenues from Fines, Forfeitures and Court Fees as a Percentage of Own Source Revenues" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on July 21, 2011. Retrieved November 16, 2010.
  8. ↑ Acts Passed by the General Assembly of Georgia. J. Johnston. 1899. p. 265.
  9. ↑ Krakow, Kenneth K. (1975). Georgia Place-Names: Their History and Origins (PDF). Macon, GA: Winship Press. p. 180. ISBN   0-915430-00-2.
  10. 1 2 3 "City of Poulan". City of Poulan. Retrieved August 19, 2024.
  11. ↑ Worsley, Jamie (December 28, 2023). "WALB Investigates two towns some refer to as 'speed traps'". walb.com. Retrieved August 18, 2024.
  12. ↑ "Some rural Georgia towns policing for profit". The Atlanta Journal-Constitution. ISSN   1539-7459 . Retrieved August 18, 2024.
  13. ↑ Pierrotti, Andy (July 22, 2024). "Nearly 73% of this city's budget comes from traffic tickets". atlantanewsfirst.com. Retrieved August 18, 2024.
  14. ↑ Staff reports (July 22, 2021). "Tommy, Flin Coleman join Atlanta-based Drew Eckl & Farnham law firm". Albany Herald. Retrieved August 18, 2024.
  15. ↑ Smith, Romney (July 17, 2013). "FOX 31 investigates: Are there speed traps in Poulan?". WFXL. Retrieved August 18, 2024.
  16. 1 2 3 4 5 Worsley, Jamie (July 25, 2024). "Warwick city attorney says, 'People aren't going to believe this'". www.walb.com. Retrieved August 28, 2024.
  17. ↑ "Database: Georgia's biggest ticket traps". ajc. Retrieved August 18, 2024.
  18. 1 2 "'Speed Trap' sign stirs up Poulan area". walb.com. August 6, 2014. Retrieved August 18, 2024.
  19. ↑ "'Speed Trap' sign may return to Poulan". walb.com. August 16, 2014. Retrieved August 18, 2024.
  20. 1 2 "Poulan Police Department". City of Poulan. Retrieved August 25, 2024.
  21. ↑ Valenzuela, Aaryn (February 12, 2015). "Poulan man's speed trap sign stolen". walb.com. Retrieved August 28, 2024.
  22. 1 2 3 Worsley, Jamie (December 28, 2023). "WALB Investigates two towns some refer to as 'speed traps'". walb.com. Retrieved August 25, 2024.
  23. ↑ "2018 Georgia Code :: Title 40 - Motor Vehicles and Traffic :: Chapter 14 - Use of Speed Detection Devices and Red Light Cameras :: Article 2 - Speed Detection Devices :: § 40-14-11. Investigations by commissioner of public safety; issuance of order suspending or revoking permit; ratio of speeding fines to agency's budget". Justia Law. Retrieved August 25, 2024.
  24. ↑ "Poulan police chief fired". www.walb.com. December 12, 2007. Retrieved August 29, 2024.
  25. 1 2 "Poulan police chief fired". www.walb.com. December 7, 2007. Retrieved August 29, 2024.
  26. 1 2 Wallace, Jim (September 7, 2012). "Poulan Mayor arrested on drug charges". walb.com. Retrieved August 25, 2024.
  27. ↑ "Poulan mayor dies". walb.com. October 12, 2020. Retrieved August 25, 2024.
  28. ↑ "GBI Arrests Couple on Child Abuse Charges in Worth County". gbi.georgia.gov. Retrieved August 28, 2024.
  29. ↑ Miller, Dave (August 22, 2017). "Police officer couple arrested for child abuse". walb.com. Retrieved August 28, 2024.
  30. ↑ undefined. "South Georgia couple, both police officers, charged with child abuse". The Atlanta Journal-Constitution. ISSN   1539-7459 . Retrieved August 28, 2024.
  31. ↑ "Married police officers arrested for abusing adopted children". Crime Online. August 23, 2017. Retrieved August 28, 2024.
  32. ↑ "Police officer couple arrested for mistreating adopted kids". N.Y. Post. August 22, 2017. Retrieved August 28, 2024.
  33. ↑ "Police officers charged with mistreating their children". Washington Times. August 24, 2017. Retrieved August 28, 2024.
  34. ↑ "Couple who are both police accused of mistreating children". AP News. Associated Press. August 22, 2017. Retrieved August 28, 2024.
  35. ↑ "Covid-19 Resource - Worth County, GA". worthga.com. March 25, 2020. Retrieved August 29, 2024.
  36. ↑ "US Gazetteer files: 2010, 2000, and 1990". United States Census Bureau. February 12, 2011. Retrieved April 23, 2011.
  37. ↑ "Decennial Census of Population and Housing by Decade". United States Census Bureau.
  38. ↑ "1870 Census of Population - Georgia - Population of Civil Divisions less than Counties" (PDF). United States Census Bureau. 1870.
  39. ↑ "1880 Census of Population - Georgia - Population of Civil Divisions less than Counties" (PDF). United States Census Bureau. 1880.
  40. ↑ "1910 Census of Population - Georgia" (PDF). United States Census Bureau. 1910.
  41. ↑ "1930 Census of Population - Georgia" (PDF). United States Census Bureau. 1930. pp. 251–256.
  42. ↑ "1940 Census of Population - Georgia" (PDF). United States Census Bureau. 1940.
  43. ↑ "1950 Census of Population - Georgia" (PDF). United States Census Bureau. 1950.
  44. ↑ "1960 Census of Population - Population of County Subdivisions - Georgia" (PDF). United States Census Bureau. 1960.
  45. ↑ "1970 Census of Population - Population of County Subdivisions - Georgia" (PDF). United States Census Bureau. 1970.
  46. ↑ "1980 Census of Population - Number of Inhabitants - Georgia" (PDF). United States Census Bureau. 1980.
  47. ↑ "1990 Census of Population - Summary Social, Economic, and Housing Characteristics - Georgia" (PDF). United States Census Bureau. 1990.
  48. ↑ "2000 Census of Population - General Population Characteristics - Georgia" (PDF). United States Census Bureau. 2000.
  49. ↑ "2010 Census of Population - General Population Characteristics - Georgia" (PDF). United States Census Bureau. 2010.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.