Engaging the Community and Solving Problems
Established in 1908, the East Point Police Department consists of patrol units, investigators, personnel and various other support services designed to facilitate the needs of the department and community. Driving goals of the Department are to improve the quality of life for all, strive for continuous improvement on efficiency, effectiveness and accountability to high standards of performance, ethics, and professionalism. The East Point Police Department’s Support Services Division plays an important role in the delivery of police services to the community. This division is responsible for managing administrative functions that support Uniform Patrol and Investigative Services as well as the Reserve Unit. Other responsibilities include jail operations, E-911 Communication Services, property and evidence, records management and permits, crime scene services, community policing unit, building maintenance and fleet maintenance. Field Operations is the most visible division of the East Point Police Department, and it includes Uniformed Patrol and a Traffic Unit.
Cold Case Murder Review Request Form
The Coleman-Baker Act, passed by the Georgia General Assembly in 2023, aims to bring justice and closure to many Georgia families affected by unsolved homicides, ensuring the answers are accessible to those who separately seek them.
School Zone Cameras
On February 3, 2025, the East Point Police Department will launch automated speed enforcement cameras in local school zones. The department’s goal is for motorists to comply with the set speed limits to help keep students safe while traveling to and from school. The use of automated speed enforcement cameras is required to be operated within the parameters set forth by Georgia law 40-14-18.
The department utilizes speed enforcement cameras because:
- Automated Speed Enforcement units are a net zero cost to the county / no cost to the taxpayers: completely violator-funded program.
- In addition to reducing speeding within school zones, these systems have integrated Automated License Plate Reader functions that can be operated 24/7, offering seamless integration with existing ALPR systems (Missing Persons, Amber Alerts, Wanted Persons, Stolen Vehicles, etc.)
- Up to 45-day video storage for evidence retrieval purposes which can also be used in criminal investigations.
- All revenue generated is used to fund local law enforcement and public safety initiatives.
- Several city jurisdictions within Fulton County use the same or similar systems.
- Studies have shown that school zones enforced through this method see a significant drop in speeds within the first month and reduce by a percentage each month before leveling off. This results in a dramatic decrease in occurrences of speed through school zones, thus increasing the safety of the roads during enforcement hours.
- Drivers traveling 11 miles or over the posted speed limit will be mailed a citation.
- These are civil penalties, not criminal.
- The first offense is $75.00. The second and any other subsequent offense will be $125.00 each violation.
Cameras are located at:
- Hamilton E. Holmes Elementary
- Paul D. West Middle School
- Woodland Middle School
School Zone Camera Links:
YouTube (available in 4K): https://youtu.be/Mbdr-pC0Rl0
DropBox Download: East Point/RedSpeed 2024 Video
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Join the Neighborhood
The East Point Police Department has partnered with the Neighbors app to monitor Ring Doorbells when a crime is reported.
Here is how EPPD can gain access to your video:
- Citizens post the video on the Neighbors App
- When crime is reported in the area, EPPD sends out a request on the app in which the citizen has to approve and send the video.
You can also report crime by calling 911 or the non-emergency number (404) 761-2177.
The Neighbors app is available for download on both Google Play and the App Store.
Crime Statistics
The East Point Police Department participates in the FBI’s Uniform Crime Reporting (UCR) Program that has been in existence since 1930, and is comprised of more than 17,000 participates from local, county, state, tribal, and federal law enforcement agencies. The UCR Program provides law enforcement agencies with the necessary data to plan, formulate budgets, allocate resources and assess police operations in an effort to address various crime problems. Statistics gathered from the UCR Program are also used by other public and private sectors, including legislators who use the data to draft bills to address crime. Additionally, businesses utilize the information to determine how crime impacts the geographical areas of their respective establishment. Visit www.fbi.gov/about-us/cjis/ucr/ucr to learn more about the UCR Program.
The FBI warns against using UCR data to rank and/or evaluate any given jurisdiction on the effectiveness of its law enforcement agency. Crime is influenced by a variety of factors, including population density, economic conditions, policies of other components of the criminal justice system and attitudes of citizens concerning crime.
Utilize the links below to access East Point Police Department Part 1 FBI Uniform Crime Reporting Statistics.
2025
Archives
Traffic Unit
An extension of Uniformed Patrol, the primary focus of the Traffic Unit is to maintain safe roadways by means of strict enforcement of traffic laws, which aids in the detection and deterrence of criminal activity. Other duties of the Traffic Unit include Accident and Hit & Run Investigations, DUI enforcement, VIN verifications and Roadway Traffic Studies.
Code Enforcement is a division under the East Point Police Department. The City’s Code Enforcement Officers help resolve code violations in the City to create a safer and healthier community for all. Their efforts help to attract more residents and businesses to the City. The City’s Code Enforcement Office is located in the East Point Law Enforcement Building located at 2727 East Point Street in East Point, Georgia. Click here to view all City Ordinances.
Contact Information
Code Complaint Line: (404) 559-6270
- Acting Code Supervisor McGee– (404) 559-6268
- Code Officer Mitchell – (404) 559-6267
- Code Officer Greene- (404) 559-6271
- Code Officer Logan-Wedgworth – (404) 559-6373
- Code Officer Meadows– (404)-559-6383
- Code Officer Williams – (404) 559-3601
- Code Officer White– (404) 559-6445
The East Point E 9-1-1 Communications Center operates 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Dispatchers work 8 hour shifts providing around the clock dispatching services for police, fire, and public works. The E 9-1-1 Center provides support and routes calls for medical emergencies to paramedic services and coordinates joint responses when needed.
The E 9-1-1 Communications Center is staffed to provide both emergency and non-emergency police and fire services for in a professional and expedient manner. Dispatchers are almost always the first contact the public has with the Police or Fire Department. They are required to evaluate and prioritize the incoming calls for service, and make referrals to other agencies when appropriate. They are responsible for dispatching calls for service to police officers and fire personnel, tracking the location of field units and monitoring their safety. Each call received is entered into a Computer Aided Dispatch System (CAD). In a years’ time, Communications Dispatchers handles over 68,000 incoming phone calls. Of those, more than 22,000 were high priority calls.
In addition to dispatching, dispatchers also process paperwork to be forwarded to the Georgia Crime Information Center and the National Crime Information Center which includes entries of look outs for wanted persons; missing or endangered persons, runaways, stolen and recovered property to include firearms, stolen and recovered abandoned vehicles; lost, stolen and found guns; and verifying whether property submitted to pawn shops are stolen, and much more.
The East Point Municipal Jail operates with a minimum of three jailers per shift. The East Point Jail has a total capacity of 109 inmates. Inmates who are charged with state offenses are transported to the Fulton County Jail.
Attorney Visitation
Attorneys may visit their clients from 9:00 AM to 8:00 PM daily. Valid identification and a Bar card must be presented before the visit.
Visitation
Visitation hours are on Saturdays and Sundays from 9:00 AM to 11:00 AM and from 1:00 PM to 3:00 PM.
*Days & Times of visitation are subject to change depending on staffing & security issues.
*Inmates must complete four full days in jail before they are allowed visitors.
The Records and Identification Section is responsible for the processing of crime scenes, fingerprinting services, inmate processing, and maintains all incident and accident report files.
Police Reports
Police Accident and Incident Reports can be obtained from the Records and Identification Section, Monday through Friday from 8:00 AM to 4:30 PM. The Records and Identification Section also provides various other services to the public, such as fingerprinting, criminal background checks, and various permits.
For more information regarding the services provided by the Records and Identification Section, please call (470) 639-1632.
Sgt. J.L. Watkins
Police Sergeant
Public Information Officer
Office
Cell
(404)295-1275
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Chief Shawn Buchanan
Chief of Police
Chief Shawn Buchanan has served the East Point Police Department for over 25 years, beginning his career as a Patrol Officer in December 1998. Throughout his distinguished tenure, he has advanced through a variety of key roles, including Sergeant in the Detective Division, Lieutenant of the Traffic Unit, Commander of the Special Operations Unit, Assistant Watch Commander, Captain in the Detective Division, and Major of Field Operations. In December 2022, Chief Buchanan was appointed as Chief of Police.
Chief Buchanan holds a Master of Business Administration from the Georgia Institute of Technology, a Master of Public Administration from Columbus State University, and a Bachelor of Science in Criminal Justice from Armstrong State University (now Georgia Southern University). He is also a graduate of Georgia Chief School (Class of 2019), the Senior Management Institute for Police (Class 49) at Boston University, and the Southern Police Institute (Class 124) at the University of Louisville.
A proud Atlanta native and Campbell High School alumnus, Chief Buchanan is committed to fostering a culture of transparency, accountability, and collaboration within the East Point Police Department. Under his leadership, the department’s mission is to “Provide a safe community for our citizens to flourish and our businesses to prosper.” Chief Buchanan’s daily promise to his officers is to remain visible, accessible, present, and accountable, ensuring that both the department and the community thrive.
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Assistant Chief Daryl McCullough
Assistant Chief of Police
Assistant Chief Daryl McCullough started his career with the East Point Police Department in 1998 after serving in the United States Marine Corps Reserves. Throughout the 26 years that Asst. Chief McCullough has been with the East Point Police Department, he has served in multiple capacities within the department to include Patrol, Special Operations, Detectives, Community Policing, and Code Enforcement.
Assistant Chief McCullough earned a bachelor’s degree in criminal justice from Saint Leo University in 2009, graduating “summa cum laude”. He went on to earn his master’s degree in public administration from Columbus State University. Asst. Chief McCullough is a graduate of the 125th Administrative Officer’s Course from the Southern Police Institute (University of Louisville). He also graduated with Class 44 from the Georgia Law Enforcement Command College (Columbus State University).
Assistant Chief McCullough is married and has three adult children. He enjoys weightlifting, running, and spending time with family and friends. Asst. Chief McCullough also loves travelling and experiencing different cultures around the world.
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Major Victor Copeland
Police Major
Major Victor Copeland has dedicated 27 years of service to the East Point Police Department. He is a graduate of the Moses Ector Law Enforcement Leadership Academy at Atlanta Metropolitan State College, where he specialized in law enforcement liability, management, supervision, leadership, and homeland security. Major Copeland furthered his professional development through Leadership Academy in Fulton County and earned his Internal Affairs Investigator Certification.
A committed member of both the National Organization of Black Law Enforcement Executives (NOBLE) and the International Association of Chiefs of Police (IACP), Major Copeland has held a variety of leadership roles during his career, including assignments in the Warrant Division, Special Operations, Assistant Watch Commander, Internal Affairs, and Liquor License Administration. Currently, he serves as the Division Commander overseeing Field Operations, Criminal Investigation, Fleet Services, Traffic Unit, Code Enforcement, Community Policing, Records and Identification, Special Operations, Warrant Unit, Body-Worn and In-Car Camera Administration, and the Crime Analysis & Social Media Unit.
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Captain Derek Bryan
Police Captain
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Captain Penny Cavin
Police Captain
Captain Penny Cavin brings over 26 years of law enforcement experience, with 21 of those years served at the East Point Police Department. She earned a Bachelor’s degree in Criminal Justice with a minor in Biology from Fort Valley State University and later obtained a Master’s degree in Public Safety Administration from Columbus State University’s Command College in 2018. Captain Cavin is also a member of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc.
Throughout her career, Captain Cavin has held significant roles within the Field Operations Division, including positions in the Narcotics Unit/V.I.P.E.R., Criminal Investigation Division/Major Cases, and Internal Affairs. She has served as both a supervisor and leader in various capacities, including Field Operations Supervisor, Internal Affairs Supervisor, and Commanding Officer of the Jail.
Captain Cavin is certified in multiple disciplines, including Basic Corrections Officer, Field Training Officer, Supervision, Management, Police Internal Affairs Investigation, Homicide Investigation, and Drug Law Enforcement. She is also a graduate of the FBI-LEEDA Trilogy Supervisory Leadership Program, Command Leadership, and Executive Leadership.
In addition to her professional accomplishments, Captain Cavin is an active member of several law enforcement organizations, including the Georgia Association of Chiefs of Police, National Association of Women Law Enforcement Executives, and the Georgia Police Accreditation Coalition Conference. She has received numerous accolades, including Chief’s Commendation Letters, Unit of the Year recognition for the V.I.P.E.R. Unit, and the S.C.O.R.E. Award. Captain Cavin is married, and they have three beautiful children.
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Captain Quenton Garrett
Police Captain
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Captain Walter Watts Jr.
Police Captain
Captain Walter Watts Jr. began his distinguished career in law enforcement as a Corrections Officer, serving for 12 years before transitioning to the role of Police Officer. He joined the East Point Police Department in 2007 and has since ascended through the ranks, holding the positions of Corporal, Sergeant, Lieutenant, and Captain. Captain Watts has demonstrated exceptional versatility and leadership, starting in the Field Operations Division, advancing to the Special Operations Division, and currently overseeing the Criminal Investigations Division. His dedication to professional development is reflected in the attainment of key certifications, including Supervision, Management, and the prestigious FBI-LEEDA Trilogy, which encompasses Supervisory Leadership, Command Leadership, and Executive Leadership. Beyond his professional achievements, Captain Watts is a devoted family man, married with three children. He enjoys traveling and is an avid supporter of the six-time Super Bowl champion New England Patriots. His unwavering commitment to justice, community safety, and operational excellence is exemplified by numerous commendations received throughout his career. Captain Watts remains a vital asset to the East Point Police Department and a respected leader in the field of law enforcement.
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Lieutenant William Bullock
Criminal Investigations Division
Public Information Officer