Friday, May 24 2013 10:55 PM EDT2013-05-25 02:55:46 GMT
Not going out of town for Memorial Day? Don't worry, the Albany Panthers want to make sure you have a good weekend as they host their first ever beer fest. You can sample more than 20 types of beer SaturdayMore >>
Not going out of town for Memorial Day? Don't worry, the Albany Panthers want to make sure you have a good weekend as they host their first ever beer fest.More >>
Friday, May 24 2013 10:50 PM EDT2013-05-25 02:50:57 GMT
The family of a Miller County woman is mourning tonight after GBI investigators say the 58 year old was murdered by her husband, before he took his own life. Now the family of Barbara Bass is speakingMore >>
The family of a Miller County woman is mourning tonight after GBI investigators say the 58 year old was murdered by her husband, before he took his own life.More >>
Friday, May 24 2013 6:38 PM EDT2013-05-24 22:38:36 GMT
Dougherty County Police Officer issues seat belt citation
The Memorial Day Holiday weekend is here, and Dougherty county police are gearing up for a busy weekend. They'll be keeping a close eye on the roads, and are asking motorists to stay safe. Police saidMore >>
The Memorial Day Holiday weekend is here, and Dougherty county police are gearing up for a busy weekend. They'll be keeping a close eye on the roads, and are asking motorists to stay safe.More >>
Friday, May 24 2013 6:25 PM EDT2013-05-24 22:25:44 GMT
The Albany Dougherty County Post of the American Legion will be on the lawn of the Albany Mall Saturday morning at 8:00 to erect 122 white crosses. They are there to represent the men and women fromMore >>
The Albany Dougherty County Post of the American Legion will be on the lawn of the Albany Mall Saturday morning at 8:00 to erect 122 white crosses.More >>
Friday, May 24 2013 6:21 PM EDT2013-05-24 22:21:31 GMT
A huge truck load of peanut butter is headed to Oklahoma tornado victims. Friday afternoon, 31,680 jars of it were loaded onto a truck at Lineage Logistics in Albany. The 22 pallets of peanut butterMore >>
Friday afternoon, 31,680 jars of it were loaded onto a truck at Lineage Logistics in Albany.More >>
ALBANY, GA (WALB) - Dougherty County's Police Chief says his department is approaching a critical staffing shortage after two years in which the attrition rate was nearly double the national average.
Chief Don Cheek says he's having trouble recruiting new officers and keeping employees, especially experienced officers, because most surrounding law enforcement agencies have better pay and benefits.
26 employees left in 2009 and 2010, including 16 line officers. That's a 57% turnover of primary first responders.
"We're hurting. We're strapped. We really are," Cheek said. "We've never been at this critical a level. It's hard to recruit officers when agencies in the surrounding area pay $3 or $4 an hour more to start."
Chief Cheek says his officers haven't had a true pay raise in four years and have actually lost pay due to insurance increases and furloughs.
He expects to lose more experienced officers.
He says a pay and benefit increase by the County Commission is needed to stop the attrition.
Click HERE to see Chief Cheek's full staffing report.
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