Public safety must remain one of Mulberry's highest priorities. As Chair of the city's Public Safety Advisory Committee, I'm leading a fact-driven review of how we protect residents today — and how we should in the years ahead.
Crime does happen here. A recent serious incident involving a shooting and a hit-and-run is a sobering reminder that our community is not immune.
As your District 5 City Councilman and Chair of Mulberry's Public Safety Advisory Committee, I believe we must carefully evaluate whether our city has the resources it needs to protect residents today and in the future.
That means objectively examining our options: continuing with Gwinnett County Police, supplementing their services with expanded City Marshal capabilities, or establishing a Mulberry Police Department.
This decision should not be driven by fear or by a single incident. It must be guided by facts, costs, response capabilities, and the long-term needs of our community. That is the standard I am holding the committee's work to, and it is the standard I will hold myself to as we bring this conversation to the public.
— Doug Ingram, District 5
On August 6, 2026, I presented the Public Safety Advisory Committee's initial findings to the Mayor and Council. The committee is made up of eight members, including Chief Robert Jones and Mayor Pro Tem Michael Rudnick, and has been gathering and modeling data from Gwinnett County Police Department call records and peer-city comparisons.
The committee is weighing each option against the same questions: what it costs, how quickly officers can respond, how much control Mulberry has over priorities and staffing, and what it means for residents five and ten years from now.
Mulberry keeps relying on the Gwinnett County Police Department for law enforcement, as it has since incorporation. The City Marshal's Office continues in its current role.
Response times across the city, County staffing and coverage priorities, and how much say Mulberry has in how it is policed.
Gwinnett County remains the primary law enforcement agency, while Mulberry grows the Marshal's Office — more sworn officers, broader enforcement authority, and a more visible local presence.
Cost relative to a full department, which duties the Marshal's Office can realistically take on, and how the two agencies coordinate.
Mulberry stands up its own police department with full law enforcement authority, staffed, equipped, and directed by the city.
Startup and ongoing cost, the timeline to become operational, recruiting in a competitive market, and the long-term budget commitment for taxpayers.
Each option was evaluated on three criteria: public safety impact, economic impact, and implementation viability. These are the committee's initial scores as presented to Council on August 6, 2026 — higher is stronger. They are a starting point for public discussion, not a final recommendation.
| Option | Public safety impact | Economic impact | Implementation viability | Overall |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Establish a Mulberry Police Department | 27 | 17 | 19 | 22.0 |
| Continue with Gwinnett County Police | 14 | 18 | 21 | 16.95 |
| Gwinnett County Police + expanded Marshal's Office | 16 | 12 | 16 | 14.80 |
Committee members: Chief Robert Jones, Brian Lappert, Dimeca Hawkins, Jack Pendergrass, David Black, Stephani Adkins, Mayor Pro Tem Michael Rudnick, and Doug Ingram (Chairman).
The Public Safety Advisory Committee is reviewing incident data, response capabilities, staffing models, and the real costs of each option — not estimates or assumptions.
This page, the newsletter, and public meetings are how the committee brings its findings to you and hears what matters most to you. Your input shapes the recommendation.
The committee coordinates with the Council in a public meeting.
The video that started this conversation. Watch it, share it with your neighbors, and tell me what you think.
WSB-TV interviewed me about the committee's work and the options Mulberry is considering.
Meeting recaps where public safety was on the agenda.
This decision belongs to the whole community. Subscribe for updates as the committee's work progresses, or reach out to me directly with your questions and views.
