School district opens pre-K lottery process ► PAGE 4 J a n u a r y 2 2 , 2 0 2 6 | A p p e n M e d i a . c o m | A n A p p e n M e d i a G r o u p P u b l i c a t i o n | 5 0 ¢ | Vo l u m e 5 , N o . 4
Report: Sandy Springs officer helped girlfriend cheat Alpharetta police exam By CARL APPEN carl@appenmedia.com SANDY SPRINGS, Ga. — A Sandy Springs police officer found himself in hot water after allegedly helping his girlfriend cheat on an Alpharetta Police Department exam in August, according to records obtained by Appen Media. The Sandy Springs officer was a sergeant at the time but has been demoted after an internal investigation concluded he violated the department’s
rules of conduct. Police officials also required him to write a letter to the statewide law enforcement accreditation agency recommending his girlfriend have her certification revoked. Appen Media and its Sandy Springs Crier newspaper obtained copies of that investigation, the board letter and other public documents that describe the allegations. According to those materials, the woman was a Sandy Springs police officer for eight months before the
department released her during field training in December 2024. She then applied to join the Alpharetta Department of Public Safety. Alpharetta leadership said they would not normally have hired her, according to public documents. However, according to the Sandy Springs investigation, the sergeant called an Alpharetta detective to vouch for her. He also allegedly told Alpharetta she did not have a good match with her Sandy Springs Field Training Officer
(FTO) and that the FTO had since been removed from several department assignments. During the internal affairs probe, the sergeant told Sandy Springs officials the two were not in a relationship at that time of the phone call but became involved later. The Alpharetta recruiter said he would not have moved the candidate forward without that recommendation.
See CHEATING, Page 8
2026 LEGISLATURE
General Assembly sets sights on affordability, literacy issues By ZOE SEILER zoe@appenmedia.com
JAMIE GODIN/APPEN MEDIA
Funding the court
The Fulton County Board of Commissioners discusses enhanced budget requests to accommodate two new State Court judges and their respective courtrooms. See story, page 3.
ATLANTA — Literacy and affordability are among the top priorities for lawmakers in the Georgia General Assembly going into the 2026 legislative session. The Legislature gaveled in on Monday, Jan. 12. Crossover Day is scheduled for March 6 and the General Assembly will adjourn on April 2. This year will see lawmakers appealing to their bases, Republican and Democrat, as many run for a statewide office. In November, voters will choose a new governor, lieutenant governor, secretary of state, and attorney general, among other elected offices. Rep. Scott Hilton (R - Peachtree Corners) noted there will be some
politicking. Sen. Kim Jackson (D - Senate District 41) said there will be more speeches from the Senate floor. State Rep. Mary Margaret Oliver (D-Decatur) said the discussion will be driven by Lt. Gov. Burt Jones’ desire to run for governor. “I think about one-third of the Senate is running for another office,” Rep. Mary Margaret Oliver (D - Decatur) said during a DeKalb Democrats webinar on Jan. 6. “That’s not unusual. That’s a pattern, and it’s more a pattern of the Senate than the House.” Education During a press conference on Jan. 7, House Speaker Jon Burns (R - Newington) said literacy is his No. 1 priority.
See LEGISLATURE, Page 8