Firearms Owners Against Crime
Institute for Legal, Legislative and Educational Action
Institute for Legal, Legislative and Educational Action
CHAMBLEE, Ga. (AP) — Multiple guns were recently reported stolen from a Georgia police chief's city-owned SUV, despite a department policy stating firearms should not be left unattended inside take-home cars, police records obtained by a newspaper show.
The firearms were taken from Chamblee police Chief Kerry Thomas' city-issued Chevrolet Tahoe while it was at an apartment complex on March 26, The Atlanta Journal Constitution reported Tuesday, citing Chamblee police reports.
A window of the unmarked SUV had been shattered, the report said.
Among the items missing from the department vehicle were a rifle with scope, a long rifle, a 12-gauge shotgun, ammunition, magazines, bulletproof vests and police badges from another department, the report listed. It's unclear whether the guns belonged to Chamblee police.
Two men seen driving a Mercedes-Benz reported stolen from Atlanta were identified as suspects in the break in, Chamblee police said in a statement Friday. Atlanta police said they recovered the car but the guns were not found.
Records indicated that two days before the break-in was reported, Thomas reviewed the department’s vehicle policy — which calls for disciplinary action if it is violated — and signed off on it, the newspaper said.
A city spokeswoman told the newspaper the situation was a “personnel matter that has been addressed.” She did not comment further.
Thomas was not available for comment, the outlet said.