POLICE DEPT
365 Spring Street
Sparta, GA 31087
706-444-5777
The Sparta Police Department is responsible for protecting the lives, homes, properties and businesses within the city limits of Sparta. The Sparta Police Department is dedicated to serving all citizens by responding to calls for police service, enforcing state and local laws, including city ordinances, conducting preventative patrol activities, performing criminal investigations, promoting traffic safety, and apprehending criminal and traffic offenders. The Sparta Police Department’s core values are the preservation of human life, integrity, professionalism, and service.
The Sparta Police Department’s officers and staff are dedicated to serving the city and its citizens through the Patrol, Criminal Investigations and Support Services Divisions. Sparta Police Department is administered and headed by the Chief of Police, Chief Thomas Clayton.
CHIEF THOMAS CLAYTON
Thomas Clayton was appointed by the Mayor and City Council as the Chief of Police in March of 2020 after serving as Interim Chief since 2019, and as a Corporal in the Patrol Division.
A lifelong resident of Sparta/Hancock County, with more than 30 years of experience in public safety, Chief Clayton has spent his career in the service of his fellow man. After graduating from Hancock Central
High School in 1974, Thomas entered the United States Army, where he served through-out the United States and Korea. He began his career in Georgia Law Enforcement in 1978 with the Georgia Department of Corrections, retiring with the rank of Lieutenant. Joining the Hancock County Sheriffs Office in 1998, he served in both the detention and patrol divisions, becoming a shift supervisor and Corporal. While still serving as a deputy sheriff, he joined the Sparta Police Department in 2002, where his skills and duties found him being promoted rank of Sergeant. Serving in this capacity, he remained with the department, and leads the department today as the Chief. Thomas is a recent graduate of the Georgia Association Chief of Police (GACP) Executive Training Course.
Thomas is the husband of the late Linda Clayton. A proud father and grandfather, when not serving the community, Thomas can be found surrounded by family, or working on his hobby, restoring vintage automobiles.
PATROL DIVISION
The Patrol Division is the backbone of the Sparta Police Department, as they are available twenty-four hours a day, seven days a week. The Patrol Division has the responsibility of being the first responders to all calls for police service within the city limits of Sparta. The Patrol Division is comprised of sworn peace officers, certified through the Georgia Peace Officer Training Council (P.O.S.T.). The patrol is commanded by Nasser Thompkins.
CRIMINAL INVESTIGATIONS & TRAINING DIVISION
The Criminal Investigations Division is responsible for the follow-up investigation of all crimes which occurs within the city limits and coordinates with other local, and state law enforcement agencies when criminal acts cross jurisdictional boundaries. The Criminal Investigations Division also serves in a variety of additional functions including Crime Prevention & Analysis, Property & Evidence Custodian, Evidence Detection, and Property Coordinator, as well as all aspects department training.
SUPPORT SERVICES DIVISION
The Support Services Division is at the center of all operations, and is comprised of both the Communications Center and Police Records. The communications section is the City of Sparta’s Emergency Services Dispatchers. P.O.S.T. certified Communication Operators are responsible for receiving complaints and emergency calls from citizens, retrieving information for patrol officers, and dispatching patrol officers to calls for service. The records section maintains a centralized records pool, sends the required reports to other agencies, and acts as a central repository for all records of official activity of the Department. The Support Services Division is supervised by the TAC Coordinator, Ms. Cherie Huff.