GBI 2001 Annual Report

D.A.R.E. Unit

The Drug Abuse Resistance Education (D.A.R.E.) Unit has the responsibility for training all of the D.A.R.E.-certified law enforcement officers in Georgia as well as presenting the D.A.R.E. curriculum in several schools.

The GBI D.A.R.E. Unit trained 63 officers for certification in FY01. There are 329 active D.A.R.E. officers in Georgia and the curriculum is presented in 739 schools in 133 school systems. Almost 200,000 students in kindergarten through 12th grades have been impacted by the training in the past two years.

State Health Care Fraud Control Unit

The State Health Care Fraud Control Unit (SHCFCU) is staffed with prosecutors from the Department of Law; auditors from the Department of Audits; special financial investigators, special agents and criminal intelligence analysts from the GBI; and requisite support staff. The unit’s function is to identify, arrest and prosecute providers of health care services who defraud the Medicaid program.

In addition, the unit is tasked with investigating allegations of patient abuse and neglect involving patients who are cared for in Medicaid funded health care facilities such as nursing homes. SHCFCU currently is being expanded to address the sharp increase in the number of patient abuse investigations experienced during FY01.

Crime Analysis Unit

The Crime Analysis Unit (CAU) provides expert crime analysis (behavioral science) and crime scene examination services to law enforcement agencies on a statewide basis. The services include providing offender profiles and investigative strategies.

In addition, Crime Scene Specialists provide highly technical evidence identification and collection services using state-of-the-art forensic equipment and methods.

Financial Investigations Unit

The Financial Investigations Unit (FIU) provides financial investigative support and forensic computer and computer crime support to other GBI work units and criminal justice agencies throughout Georgia.

Because FIU is primarily an investigative support unit, its statistics relating to arrests, stolen and recovered property, and seized contraband are often reported by GBI work units. Therefore the statistics are not reported by FIU even though FIU personnel contributed significantly to the resolve of the cases. The unit routinely assist in conducting major corruption cases, which often involve public officials. It also conducts evidence retrieval/processing services involving computers that are believed to contain evidence related to various crimes.

FIU initiated more than 180 cases during FY01 and continued to lead the state by developing strategies and expertise to combat computer crimes.

The GBI views computer-oriented crimes as a rapidly emerging and highly technical area of law enforcement that will require significant growth in resources and capabilities. FIU is uniquely positioned to lead this effort and to develop additional resources aimed at combating these crimes.

Bomb Disposal Unit

The Bomb Disposal Unit (BDU) provides statewide assistance in performing render-safe procedures on explosive devices, chemicals and other volatile substances. The BDU opened 113 cases in FY01.

The GBI has four specially equipped bomb vans and three remote robots that are used to examine packages, perform render-safe procedures and probe structures. The program is currently being expanded to address the growing threat of weapons of mass destruction (WMD). Bomb technicians are certified to handle bombing situations involving hazardous materials and will expand this capability to address the threat presented by chemical and biological devices.

GBI bomb technicians have already received basic WMD training at the FBI Hazardous Devices School. The expansion will involve the acquisition of personal protective equipment and render-safe equipment that when combined with existing training and knowledge, will form a capacity that has not previously existed in Georgia. This will serve as a segment of the National Domestic Preparedness Plan with relation to WMD threats.

Child Abuse Investigative Support Center

The Child Abuse Investigative Support Center was implemented during August of 2000 to address the needs of the GBI and other agencies involved in child abuse recognition and the investigation of child maltreatment.

The center currently preforms dual functions by providing consultative assistance and on-site training throughout the state. Forensic pathologists, who are members of the GBI Medical Examiner’s Office, provide expertise regarding child pattern injury and wound recognition. Criminal investigative analysts affiliated with the GBI’s Crime Analysis Unit provide investigative consultations based upon expertise in the analysis of crimes against children.

Members of the support center travel regularly throughout the state upon request to furnish instruction and training concerning topics relating to child abuse and neglect. Statistical information regarding child abuse and child deaths in Georgia also maintained at the center is used to support future child abuse curricula and programs.

Accreditation Unit

Every year inspectors with the Investigative Division's command staff nominate investigations to be considered for the prestigious GBI Director’s and Deputy Director’s Awards for Investigative Excellence.

The GBI regional investigative office in Douglas is this year's recipient of the prestigious GBI Director's Award for Investigative Excellence. The office was named the FY01 winner for its investigation into illegal drug activity involving certain members of the Coffee County Sheriff's Office. "Operation Coffee Pot," as it was named, led to the federal indictment of 10 defendants, including then Sheriff Carlton Evans.

The investigation began in August of 1999 when local authorities in Irwin County discovered a large plot of marijuana growing on property near the Coffee-Irwin county lines. The discovery led to a full-scale investigation and the implication of Sheriff Evans and several of his deputies in an elaborate marijuana-growing and distribution operation in Coffee County. In October of 2000, a federal grand jury indicted the Sheriff, his brother Sage Evans, Chief Deputy Ben Hodge, Deputy Wayne Harper, and six other defendants on drug manufacturing and distribution charges. Fifteen arrests were made in connection with the investigation. All the defendants pleaded guilty but the sheriff who died of a self-inflicted gunshot wound.