Poulan, Georgia

Poulan
City
Poulan City Hall and Police Station
Location in Worth County and the state of Georgia
Coordinates: 31°30′49″N 83°47′28″W
Country	United States
State	Georgia
County	Worth
Area [1]
• Total	1.67 sq mi (4.33 km^2)
• Land	1.67 sq mi (4.33 km^2)
• Water	0.00 sq mi (0.00 km^2)
Elevation	381 ft (116 m)
Population  (2020)
• Total	760
• Density	454.27/sq mi (175.36/km^2)
Time zone	UTC-5 (Eastern (EST))
• Summer (DST)	UTC-4 (EDT)
ZIP code	31781
Area code	229
FIPS code	13-62496[2]
GNIS feature ID	0321100[3]
Website	www.cityofpoulan.com

Poulan is a city in Worth County, Georgia, United States. The population was 780 in 2020. Poulan is part of the Albany, Georgia metropolitan area.

Poulan is notable for its police department's speed trap tactics from 2006 to 2012.^[4][5][6] In 2009, Poulan's small police force generated nearly $900,000 from fines and fees, a number comparable to a city 30 times its size and due to the charges and fees being more than most cities. The per capita revenue from fines and fees is $1,019.15.^[7]

History

The Georgia General Assembly incorporated Poulan as a town in 1889.^[8] The city was named for Judge W. A. Poulan.^[9] The remnants of what was once a bank and pharmacy are still standing on Broad Street.^[10] Poulan is also home to the only two historical registered properties in Worth County; the Poulan Library and Possum Poke.^[10] Poulan was settled in 1877 along the Brunswick and Albany railroad.^[10]

Library, on the National Register of Historic Places

Speed trap

The Poulan Police Department has been featured in numerous articles by investigative journalists, most notably for its speed trap tactics since 2009.^[11][12][13] The city attorney; former Albany, Georgia mayor Tommy Coleman^[14] has repeatedly defended the enforcement tactics, as well as the Poulan and Warwick Police Departments.^[15][16]

Between 2008 and 2012, Poulan is estimated to have received $1,676,402.80 (a per-capita amount of $2,012.49) from their Police Department's tactics inside the Poulan city limits on U.S. Route 82 (GA State Route 520).^[17] Residents of Poulan have publicly voiced their concern over their police department's tactics multiple times with department leadership specifically denying quotas for summons and citations for traffic related offenses.^[18][19]

In August 2014, a local resident of Poulan placed a sign that warned drivers traveling on U.S. Route 82 (GA State Route 520) of the speed trap tactics. A local NBC/ABC affiliate, WALB, featured a story on the resident who claimed that Poulan Police Officers were given specific quotas. Poulan Police Chief Larry Whisenant,^[20] explicitly refuted this claim and denied that any officers were given quotas^[18] for speeding citations. In February 2015 the sign was stolen from its placement along U.S. Route 82 (GA State Route 520).^[21]

In December 2023, local NBC/ABC affiliate WALB produced a report about the Poulan Police Department and showcased the speed trap tactics that the Police Department continues to use.^[22] The report calculated that the Poulan Police Department produced more income than the cost of the agency to the city's budget.^[22] Poulan Police commanders were specifically asked for documents showing the amount of income received from speeding related citations. According to the article, Poulan "declined to comment".^[22] According to Georgia law, a county or municipal law enforcement agency's budget may not exceed 35% of its annual budget from speeding related fines.^[23]

In July 2024, local NBC/ABC affiliate WALB produced another report on both the Poulan and Warwick Police Departments.^[16] City attorney Tommy Coleman defended the City of Poulan and the Police Department in an interview, claiming that Poulan's budget percentage from speed enforcement was at 22% for the years 2023 to 2024.^[16] Worth County Sheriff Don Whitaker also defended the City of Poulan in an interview he participated in for the report.^[16] Disturbingly, Worth County officials (including a member of the County Commission) and City of Poulan officials, admitted that Poulan required the revenue from speed related citations because their tax base was so small.^[16]

Controversy

In December 2007, then Police Chief Angie Schlosser, was fired from the Poulan Police Department after the city claimed she had performed an illegal background investigation into a city council member.^[24] While Schlosser denied the allegations, she stated that there were concerns about the background and supposed criminal past of the council member.^[25] Despite the seriousness of the allegation, Schlosser was never charged with a crime, and no outside investigation was conducted.^[25]

In September 2012, then Poulan Mayor, Dustin Grubbs, was arrested in Dougherty County and charged with felony possession of various narcotic prescription pills^[26] including oxycodone, oxycontin, and two different mixtures of Vicodin in different dosages with a total prescription pill count of 57. The arrest showcased the continued synthetic opioid epidemic in the United States.^[26] Despite the charges, Grubbs remained the Mayor of Poulan until his death in October 2020.^[27]

In August 2017, Rosemary Jones, a police officer employed by Poulan Police, was arrested and charged by the Georgia Bureau of Investigation (along with her husband) with two counts of felony cruelty to children in the first degree, two counts of aggravated assault, and one count of felony false imprisonment.^[28][29] Their arrest made national^{[30][31][32][33]} and international news.^[34] Despite the arrest, Jones was retained by the Poulan Police Department, and eventually promoted to captain.^[20]

COVID-19

During the COVID-19 epidemic, Worth County Sheriff Don Whitaker deputized members of the Poulan Police Department so that county ordinances specifically related to COVID-19 regulations could be enforced by Poulan Police Officers inside the city limits of Poulan, GA.^[35]

Geography

Poulan is located at 31°30′49″N 83°47′28″W (31.513739, -83.791041).^[36] According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 1.7 square miles (4.3 km²), all land.

Demographics

Historical population

Census	Pop.	Note	%±
1900	474		—
1910	652		37.6%
1920	586		−10.1%
1930	611		4.3%
1940	670		9.7%
1950	750		11.9%
1960	736		−1.9%
1970	766		4.1%
1980	818		6.8%
1990	962		17.6%
2000	946		−1.7%
2010	851		−10.0%
2020	760		−10.7%
U.S. Decennial Census[37]

As of the census^[2] of 2000, there were 946 people, 365 households, and 273 families residing in the city. By 2020, its population declined to 760.

Notable people

• Howell Heflin (1921–2005), politician
• Chase Osborn (1860–1949), politician

References

1. "2020 U.S. Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved December 18, 2021.
2. "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved January 31, 2008.
3. "US Board on Geographic Names". United States Geological Survey. October 25, 2007. Retrieved January 31, 2008.
4. Simmons, Andria (October 22, 2014). "Some rural Georgia towns policing for profit". The Atlanta Journal-Constitution. Archived from the original on January 13, 2020. Retrieved January 13, 2020. Take the example of Poulan (pronounced PO-lan), where officials claim to have seen the error of their ways. The town of 833 took in $1.67 million in ticket revenue between 2008 and 2012, but the income has fallen steadily since then....In the case of Poulan, GDOT raised the limit after receiving numerous complaints about it being a speed trap, Dale said.
5. "'Speed Trap' sign stirs up Poulan area". walb.com. August 5, 2014. Archived from the original on January 13, 2020.
6. Smith, Romney (July 17, 2013). "FOX 31 investigates: Are there speed traps in Poulan?". WFXL. Archived from the original on January 13, 2020. Retrieved January 13, 2020.
7. "Georgia Department of Community Affairs, Office of Research: 2009 Municipal Revenues from Fines, Forfeitures and Court Fees as a Percentage of Own Source Revenues" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on July 21, 2011. Retrieved November 16, 2010.
8. Acts Passed by the General Assembly of Georgia. J. Johnston. 1899. p. 265.
9. Krakow, Kenneth K. (1975). Georgia Place-Names: Their History and Origins (PDF). Macon, GA: Winship Press. p. 180. ISBN 0-915430-00-2.
10. "City of Poulan". City of Poulan. Retrieved August 19, 2024.
11. Worsley, Jamie (December 28, 2023). "WALB Investigates two towns some refer to as 'speed traps'". walb.com. Retrieved August 18, 2024.
12. "Some rural Georgia towns policing for profit". The Atlanta Journal-Constitution. ISSN 1539-7459. Retrieved August 18, 2024.
13. Pierrotti, Andy (July 22, 2024). "Nearly 73% of this city's budget comes from traffic tickets". atlantanewsfirst.com. Retrieved August 18, 2024.
14. Staff reports (July 22, 2021). "Tommy, Flin Coleman join Atlanta-based Drew Eckl & Farnham law firm". Albany Herald. Retrieved August 18, 2024.
15. Smith, Romney (July 17, 2013). "FOX 31 investigates: Are there speed traps in Poulan?". WFXL. Retrieved August 18, 2024.
16. Worsley, Jamie (July 25, 2024). "Warwick city attorney says, 'People aren't going to believe this'". www.walb.com. Retrieved August 28, 2024.
17. "Database: Georgia's biggest ticket traps". ajc. Retrieved August 18, 2024.
18. "'Speed Trap' sign stirs up Poulan area". walb.com. August 6, 2014. Retrieved August 18, 2024.
19. "'Speed Trap' sign may return to Poulan". walb.com. August 16, 2014. Retrieved August 18, 2024.
20. "Poulan Police Department". City of Poulan. Retrieved August 25, 2024.
21. Valenzuela, Aaryn (February 12, 2015). "Poulan man's speed trap sign stolen". walb.com. Retrieved August 28, 2024.
22. Worsley, Jamie (December 28, 2023). "WALB Investigates two towns some refer to as 'speed traps'". walb.com. Retrieved August 25, 2024.
23. "2018 Georgia Code :: Title 40 - Motor Vehicles and Traffic :: Chapter 14 - Use of Speed Detection Devices and Red Light Cameras :: Article 2 - Speed Detection Devices :: § 40-14-11. Investigations by commissioner of public safety; issuance of order suspending or revoking permit; ratio of speeding fines to agency's budget". Justia Law. Retrieved August 25, 2024.
24. "Poulan police chief fired". www.walb.com. December 12, 2007. Retrieved August 29, 2024.
25. "Poulan police chief fired". www.walb.com. December 7, 2007. Retrieved August 29, 2024.
26. Wallace, Jim (September 7, 2012). "Poulan Mayor arrested on drug charges". walb.com. Retrieved August 25, 2024.
27. "Poulan mayor dies". walb.com. October 12, 2020. Retrieved August 25, 2024.
28. "GBI Arrests Couple on Child Abuse Charges in Worth County". gbi.georgia.gov. Retrieved August 28, 2024.
29. Miller, Dave (August 22, 2017). "Police officer couple arrested for child abuse". walb.com. Retrieved August 28, 2024.
30. undefined. "South Georgia couple, both police officers, charged with child abuse". The Atlanta Journal-Constitution. ISSN 1539-7459. Retrieved August 28, 2024.
31. "Married police officers arrested for abusing adopted children". Crime Online. August 23, 2017. Retrieved August 28, 2024.
32. "Police officer couple arrested for mistreating adopted kids". N.Y. Post. August 22, 2017. Retrieved August 28, 2024.
33. "Police officers charged with mistreating their children". Washington Times. August 24, 2017. Retrieved August 28, 2024.
34. "Couple who are both police accused of mistreating children". AP News. Associated Press. August 22, 2017. Retrieved August 28, 2024.
35. "Covid-19 Resource - Worth County, GA". worthga.com. March 25, 2020. Retrieved August 29, 2024.
36. "US Gazetteer files: 2010, 2000, and 1990". United States Census Bureau. February 12, 2011. Retrieved April 23, 2011.
37. "Census of Population and Housing". Census.gov. Retrieved June 4, 2015.

External links

• Official website