The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
3 guns stolen from police chief’s city-issued vehicle
His personal and city vehicles were among 23 broken into.
Three guns were stolen from the Chamblee police chief’s city-issued SUV during a rash of car breakins at an apartment complex late last month, according to police records, though it is against department policy to store firearms in vehicles.
Chief Kerry Thomas’ personal and city vehicle were two of 23 vehicles broken into early on March 26 at the luxury Windsor Parkview apartments on Peachtree Boulevard, Chamblee police reports state.
A .270 Remington rifle with scope, a .22 long rifle and Browning 12-gauge shotgun were stolen from the department-owned 2019 Chevrolet Tahoe, which is an unmarked police unit, according to a report obtained by The Atlanta Journal-Constitution.
Chamblee’s police conduct policies state that officers may not leave guns in unattended, parked vehicles. Records show the chief reviewed the policy on takehome vehicles and signed off on it March 24, just two days before the break-ins.
City of Chamblee spokeswoman Tisa Moore said the apparent policy violation is a “personnel matter that has been addressed,” though she did not specify how it was resolved.
The policy handbook states that “any violations of this, or any other policy ... will result in disciplinary action against the officer that could result in a loss or suspension of assigned vehicle privileges, or any other progressive discipline.” Thomas was not available for comment.
The police report did not say how Thomas’ guns were stored or whether they were the property of the police department.
Also stolen from the city-issued Tahoe were 34 rounds of ammunition, two 9mm Glock magazines, a police baton, duty belt, handcuffs, bulletproof vests and badges from the Savannah Police Department, the report states. The front passenger seat window had been broken. Thomas was the assistant police chief in Savannah before coming to Chamblee in 2018.
Several high-priced cameras and other electronics were stolen from his personal vehicle, a 2016 GMC Yukon.
In a press release last week, the police department said the suspects in the break-ins are two males who were seen driving a Mercedes-Benz. The Mercedes was reported stolen from Buckhead the same night of the break-ins and found in Atlanta the next morning, police said.
According to an Atlanta Police Department report, the Mercedes was recovered in northwest Atlanta. Two loaded magazines, the police baton and a police vest were among the items found in the car. The guns were not found.
Anyone with information about the break-ins is asked to contact Chamblee police Sgt. Mike Winfield at mwinfield@chamleega.gov or 470564-9022, or submit an anonymous tip online.