Cumming swears in three new officers; sergeant promoted to lead real-time crime center

The Cumming City Council held a ceremonial swearing-in for three new officers and recognized a sergeant promoted to a supervisory role overseeing the city's developing real-time crime center.

Police Department staff announced that Officers Elijah Allen, (Officer) Pinkney and (Officer) Weaver completed the Police Academy in December and are finishing field training officer (FTO) assignments; they were described as beginning independent patrol responsibilities this week. The department conducted a ceremonial oath and family members were invited to pin badges.

The council also recognized Sergeant Bunch, who was promoted last month to a new supervisory position to lead the real-time crime center once it becomes operational. Police staff said the sergeant coordinated responsibilities for civilians and school resource officers while building the program and was instrumental in setting up the center. Earlier in the meeting the council voted to amend the agenda to move the swearing-in and promotion forward so Sergeant Bunch could attend the funeral of a former partner from the Duluth Police Department.

A police representative described the real-time crime center as a unit that will centralize data and operations and said the unit should be ready for tours "in the next couple months." No operating budget change or staffing increase tied to the center was presented at the meeting.

The remarks were ceremonial; no formal personnel actions requiring council approval (such as hiring or pay changes) were recorded in the transcript. Council members thanked the officers and asked the community to support the department during the transition to independent patrol for the new officers.