Jonesboro Police Department

About

Chief Clifford Kelker
Lieutenant Anthony Lumpkin
Lieutenant Jonathan James
Jonesboro Police Department
Jonesboro, Ga

Story

About the Police Department:
The Jonesboro Police Department is one of the smaller law enforcement agencies within Clayton County, but has the opportunity to create and sustain that small town atmosphere while delivering the highest level of professional police service. The police department is made up of thirty one (31) sworn personnel and eight (8) civilian employees. Located just fifteen (15) minutes south of Atlanta and five (5) minutes south of Atlanta Hartsfield-Jackson airport, with the Jonesboro Police Department servicing many of the visitors and residents of metro Atlanta. Creating that small town atmosphere is one of the unique charms for the city and something that the police department is proud of. Even though appearances are such, the police department is faced with the same criminal activity as any other city, big or small, and we are able to deliver the same level of service and protection like all other metro agencies. The police department takes pride in having the lowest crime rate in Clayton County and strives to be the leading law enforcement agency within the county.


A brief bio of the Jonesboro Police Department’s Chief, Chief Franklin Allen:

Chief Allen began his career in law enforcement in 1981 with the Spalding County Sheriff’s Office, where he worked until 1990. During that time, Chief Allen served in a variety of positions, eventually working his way through the ranks from a deputy within the Uniformed Patrol Division, then to shift Sergeant within the Uniformed Patrol Division. Chief Allen was later promoted to a Narcotics Agent within the Special Operations Division, where he was an Undercover Agent, Major Case Investigator and as Assistant Group Supervisor. Chief Allen served in that capacity from 1985 until 1990, when an opportunity presented itself to which he couldn’t pass up.

In 1990 he joined the United States Marshals Service and served in the Atlanta office for the next two years. Realizing his passion for police work and the burning desire to return to the streets, Chief Allen returned to the Spalding County Drug Task Force and served as the Group Supervisor until 1995.

Chief Allen then was forwarded an opportunity to further his advancement within the ranks, this time with another agency. Chief Allen accepted a position as Chief Investigator with the Lake City Police Department (Clayton County, Ga) and served in that position until 2002.

In 2002, Spalding County swore in a new Sheriff and the opportunity for Chief Allen to return home, was presented when he was offered a Captain’s position, to which he gladly accepted and then supervised the Criminal Investigation Division of the Spalding County Sheriff’s Department.

In 2006, Chief Allen was appointed as Chief of Police for the City of Grantville, Ga where he served until 2010, when he was offered and proudly accepted his current position as Chief of Police for the City of Jonesboro.

A little educational background for Chief Allen. He is a 1985 graduate of Gordon State College, where he obtained his Associate’s Degree in Psychology. He is a 1999 graduate of Georgia State University with a Bachelor’s Degree in Criminal Justice and a 2002 graduate of Columbus State University with a Master’s in Public Administration and a 2014 graduate of Saint Leo University with a Masters in Criminal Justice Administration.

As well as attaining his formal education, Chief Allen is a graduate of the Georgia Law Enforcement Command College class 5, and Class 123 of the Southern Police Institute Administrative Officers Course. Chief Allen has also received his Intermediate and Advanced Law Enforcement Certification, Supervision, Management and Executive Development Certifications, as well as many other classes of instruction over his 34 year career.

Mission

The mission of the Jonesboro Police Department is to maximize the quality of life of the citizens in which we serve; we will be compassionate and courteous; upholding the law fairly and firmly; and we will change and mold our department as necessary to maximize our service in meeting the needs of a growing city.