Chancellor’s Customer Service Excellence Award – Team
Supporting Emails Displaying UGA Police Department Focus on Customer Service
August 7, 2009 - I was on campus yesterday and asked a UGA policeman for some directions
around 11:30 a.m. He and his partner were in a white police pickup truck on Lumpkin Str. They
were able not only to show me my location, but to escort me there. I wanted to thank you and
their professionalism and service to the community.
Michael Miller
Hoschton, GA
September 2, 2010 - Hi Jimmy: I hope this message finds you doing well. I wanted to let you
know that last week I had what appeared to have been a stolen property incident at the locker
room of Ramsey. Everything turn out alright and I got all of my belongings out of the locker (a
different lock replaced mine, so I could not open it). The UGA police officers who came to assist
me were truly professional and very helpful. I can only recall one officers name, that was Officer
Seawright. I wanted to give you this positive feedback. They may tell you the whole story if you
feel you want to listen to a funny one (although at the moment it was not funny thinking I had
lost everything, IDs, credit cards, etc...). I hope I get to see you soon. In the meantime, take
care! and again my thanks to your department.
JHA
September 16, 2009 - Chief Williamson, I wanted to personally thank you for all your efforts
and the efforts of your police officers with the crack down of scooters on the sidewalks.
“Scooter” traffic has definitely decreased. Thanks again,
Abbie
October 1, 2009 - Hello, I live in a two-apartment house on Grady Ave., off of Prince and
Boulevard. Tonight (Sept. 30) around 8:30 two UGA officers knocked on my door because while
patrolling, they saw that the main front door of the house was wide open. It was fine, and my
housemate and I usually lock it; my friend and I were just in and out with the dog. I didn't even
think to get their names, but I really appreciate the extra presence in the neighborhood and the
fact that they noticed that and checked it out. I'm sure all my neighbors would say the
same. It's greatly appreciated, and unfortunately, greatly needed as we all know (my home was
already broken into once). Thank you and please keep up the good work.
Best regards,
Rebecca
December 21, 2009 – Jimmy, I am in yesterday's UGA-PD report. Your officers responded to a
missing person call for a despondent students after I contacted Student Affairs.
They did a great, professional job and helped us coordinate with ACC. The student was
eventually found and taken to ARMC. I just wanted to give you some good news,
David
December 22, 2009 - Hi, Jimmy. I just wanted to thank you and your team for such excellent
service on Friday for Graduation. To say it was a miserable day would be an understatement,
but my dad and I were driven out into it by familial bonds. Your officers, though, were out in
the driving rain, directing traffic, letting pedestrians cross very busy streets and generally
keeping everything and everyone moving without those blood ties. I realize this is routine for
your department, but as a parent, I was very impressed by such selflessness. It takes more than
a stiff upper lip to be out in such weather for children who are not your own and I just wanted
to say thank you. cwb
February 27, 2010 - I wish I was better at names. As a therapist at CAPS, I have had several
interactions with UGA police officers and I am so impressed with the professionalism & respect
they show to the students and faculty. I want to thank the officers from 3 specific
circumstances. Sometime last summer I was told to file a report for an obscene phone call I
received at CAPS. 2 officers showed up, I reported the explicit details, and felt entirely
comfortable. It was the kind of situation that welcomed immature responses but the officers
remained professional and (I hope) laughed in the privacy of their squad car rather than in my
office. On 9/29/09, 2 officers with the same last name (African American woman, Caucasian
man) responded because a student had been assaulted. She did not want to report and was
terrified of the police coming. The officers respected her choice and the entire interaction
ended up being therapeutic. She entered the situation worried that she would be pressured
into something she didn’t want to do and left feeling respected & safe. Today an officer
responded to a student who needed to be at CAPS. Another officer transported me to the
officer with the student. Neither officer left the client feeling like he was in trouble. They were
both pleasant and professional. I’m sure this behavior is the expectation for your officers and I
appreciate that. But there was such potential for the incidents involving the students to cause
them more pain or more stress and they didn’t. That makes their lives better. It makes my job
easier. Thank you,
Allison Salmon Puryear
March 1, 2010 - Dear Lieutenant Whitfield:
Thank you so much for your assistance on Friday evening with making sure our UGA bus
transporting the participants in the 5th Annual Research University Civic Engagement Network
meeting could navigate through the gymnastics meet traffic. You were so kind to come to the
Georgia Center prior to the event to make sure that we were all set. Everything worked
flawlessly, and the participants were impressed with the size of the crowd that supports UGA's
gymnastics program. Again, your attentiveness and kindness were and are greatly appreciated!
March 1, 2010 - Thanks Jimmy. This just helps to reinforce the important concept that our
officers are different from the normal law enforcement officer and that you and your senior
leaders are obviously going a good job of establishing this culture. A very sincere thank you
from me............................TB
March 10, 2010 - I live in Decatur, Georgia and have a daughter, Georgia Gootee, who attends
UGA. She came home for a visit yesterday and left our house to return to her off-campus
apartment in Athens at around 10:00 p.m. She has always been exceptionally conscientious
about calling us to let us know when she arrives safely back home in Athens. Last night when
we did not hear from her within a couple of hours, we began to worry. We called her cell
phone, we e-mailed her, we Skyped her, and we called her coworkers at Georgia
GameDay. Finally, at about 1:30 a.m., her father got in the car and began driving toward
Athens, fearing that she had gotten in a wreck en route and was injured and unable to
call. Finally, it occurred to me to call the UGA police department because I could not stand
waiting for two hours while doing nothing. I thought perhaps someone could go by her
apartment to see if her car was there. The officer who took my call could not have been kinder
or more professional. She could tell that I was nearly hysterical, and she assured me that a
patrol car would go by immediately and do a welfare check. Mere minutes later I received a call
from my embarrassed daughter apologizing for forgetting to call and assuring me that all was
well. She said that a very nice officer knocked on her door and asked her to please call her
worried parents. Of course we hung up immediately and she called my husband and
apologized to him as well and told him to turn around. She said the only thing scarier than
seeing a policeman at her door at that hour would have been seeing her Dad an hour
later! Thank you, thank you, thank you for your prompt and courteous attention to a parent’s
desperate call. Sincerely,
Jackie Gootee
March 30, 2010 - Earlier today my son, Brian Guhde reported his gym bag stolen from Ramsey.
The bag contained his student ID and car keys all well as some incidentals. According to my son,
the police responded and began a “search” at Ramsey. Soon thereafter the bag was recovered.
We don’t know why someone decided to “return” the bag but we’re guessing the police
presence didn’t hurt. As his parents, we’d like to thank you for your efforts and concern. It
really means a lot to us to know the police are looking out after the students. Thank you,
Lynn and Dave Guhde