This collection includes videos and transcripts of oral history interviews with retired and active duty law enforcement officers. Students and faculty from the History Department at Georgia Southern University conducted the interviews from 2014-18. The goal of the collection is to document the evolution of law enforcement in Georgia.
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Interview with Harold Edmondson
Daniel Hancock
Interview conducted by Daniel Hancock at the Savannah Marriot Riverfront hotel on August 24, 2015. Harold began his law enforcement career in 1974 with the Loganville Police Department. He then transferred to the Walker County Sheriff Department in 1976 where he stayed until his retirement in 2005. In this interview, Harold discusses the crime and changes he has seen in Walker County during his tenure.
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Interview with Harvey Holloway
Daniel Hancock
Interview conducted by Daniel Hancock at the Savannah Marriot Riverfront hotel on August 24, 2015. Harvey began his career in law enforcement with the Georgia State Patrol in 1963, moving up from a radio operator to Post Commander. He is also a veteran of the Vietnam Conflict. In this interview, Harvey discusses what policing was like in the 1960s as well as his opinion on the POAG.
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Interview with Harvey Holloway (Second Interview)
Daniel Hancock
Interview conducted by Daniel Hancock at the home of Harvey Holloway in Milledgeville, Georgia, on November 9, 2015. Harvey is a retired Georgia State Patrol Post Commander. This is a follow-up meeting from his first interview two months prior. In this interview, Harvey goes into further detail about his training and career, as well as elaborates on the artifacts he is donating to the Georgia Southern University museum.
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Interview with Henry Smith
Daniel Hancock
Interview conducted by Daniel Hancock at the Savannah Marriot Riverfront hotel on august 24, 2015. Henry became a Georgia State Trooper in 1963 and loved his career. He has wanted to be a state trooper since he was 14 years old. In this interview, Henry discusses the changes he has seen in the GSP during his tenure and how troopers today differ from troppers of the 1960s.
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Interview with James "Jim" Covington
Daniel Hancock
Interview conducted by Daniel Hancock at the Savannah Marriot Riverfront hotel on August 24, 2015. Jim joined the Georgia Bureau of Investigations after his Vietnam draft. He retired from the GBI after nearly thirty years of service. In this interview, Jim discusses the role that computers, technology, and education have played in shaping law enforcement.
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Interview with John Lasinski
Nicolette Pistone
Interview conducted by Nicolette Pistone at the home of John Lasinski in Screven County, Georgia, on April 28, 2015. John joined the Georgia State Partol in 1968 when he was 21 years old, retiring in 2001. John served at multiple posts throughout Georgia, including the 1996 Olympics. In this interview, John discusses his various promotions, assignments, and cases.
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Interview with John White
Nicolette Pistone
Interview conducted by Nicolette Pistone in Savannah, Georgia, on April 21, 2015. John began his law enforcement career as a policeman in 1946. He is also a World War II veteran, having served with the Marines in the south Pacific. In this interview, John discusses some of the racial tensions he observed as one of Georgia's first black police officers.
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Interview with John Willis
Daniel Hancock
Interview conducted by Daniel Hancock at the Savannah Marriot Riverfront hotel on August 24, 2015. John was inspired to enter law enforcement by reading the Hardy Boy books. He initially desired to join the FBI, but found the Georgia Bureau of Investigations to be more conducive to his interests. In this interview, John discusses his time as an undercover narcotics agent and his experiences in drug enforcement.
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Interview with Keith Moran
Daniel Hancock
Interview conducted by Daniel Hancock at the Savannah Marriot Riverfront hotel on August 24, 2015. Keith led two law enforcement careers; the first being a military policeman in the Army for 21 years including 7 years as a prison guard at Leavenworth. He also spent 21 years serving with in the Liberty County Sheriffs Department. In this interview, Keith discusses his military career in depth as well as his transition into civilian law enforcement.
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Interview with Ken Brown
Nicolette Pistone
Interview conducted by Nicolette Pistone at the Georgia Southern University Statesboro Campus. Ken entered law enforcement after graduating from GSU in 1975, primarily with the Statesboro Police Department. He has served as GSU's Director of Public Safety, leading multiple interdepartmental operations and meeting celebrity visitors to GSU including President George W. Bush in 2006. In this interview, Ken discusses the evolution of the University Police and the impact technology has had on law enforcement.
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Interview with Marvin Moses
Daniel Hancock
Interview conducted by Daniel Hancock at the Savannah Marriot Riverfront hotel on August 24, 2015. Marvin joined the Georgia Bureau of Investigations in 1975, where he stayed until his retirement in 2001. He was inspired to enter law enforcement by his father, who was a state trooper and GBI agent. In this interview, Marvin discusses his family legacy, his time in the military, and the technological changes he has seen during his tenure.
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Interview with Mike Fordham
Daniel Hancock
Interview conducted by Daniel Hancock at the Savannah Riverfront hotel on August 24, 2015. Mike joined the Georgia Bureau of Investigations in 1979, where he retired after 34 years of service. he is also a Marine veteran. In this interview, Mike discusses his experience in the Marines, the Army National Guard, and GBI drug enforcement.
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Interview with Robert "Bobby" Vernon Sikes and Steve Sikes
Nicolette Pistone and Charles Sikes
Interview conducted by Nicolette Pistone and Charles Sikes in Liberty County on April 19, 2015. At the time of this interview, Bobby is a past sheriff of Liberty County and Steve Sikes is the current Liberty County Sheriff. Bobby's father was also a Liberty County sheriff, making three generations of sheriffs in the family. In this interview, Bobby and Steve discuss changes they have seen in Liberty County's law enforcement during their legacy.
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Interview with Roger Car
Daniel Hancock
Interview conducted by Daniel Hancock at the Savannah Marriot Riverfront hotel on August 24, 2015. Roger entered law enforcement after serving in Vietnam with the Marines and worked for various agencies. He joined the Georgia State Patrol in 1981, where he remained until he retired. In this interview, Roger discusses the changes he has witnessed in law enforcement technology throughout the state.
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Interview with Ronnie Gay
Daniel Hancock
Interview conducted by Daniel Hancock at the Savannah Marriot Riverfront hotel on August 24, 2015. Ronnie greatly admired the Georgia State Patrol as a child and joined the GSP in 1971. He spent much of his career at the Governor's mansion, especially with Jimmy Carter. In this interview, Ronnie discusses how he overcame educational challenges and his time with Governor Carter.
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Interview with Ryan Powell
Daniel Hancock
Interview conducted by Daniel Hancock at the Savannah Marriot Riverfront hotel on August 25, 2015. Ryan was appointed to the Peace Officer Standards and Training (POST) Council as an emergency position at the death of his father. The executive director liked his work and offered him a job after his three month emergency appointment was over. In this interview, Ryan discusses the POST objectives and course in detail.
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Interview with Steve Smith
Nicolette Pistone
Interview conducted by Nicolette Pistone in Savannah on February 5, 2015. Steve served in the Army infantry in Vietnam and upon returning joined the Savannah Police Department, where he worked for 28 years. He has also taught at the training academy and worked with the U.S. Marshals. In this interview, Steve discusses his difficulty as a Vietnam veteran in law enforcement and the transition to civilian life.
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Interview with Vernon M. Keenan
Nicolette Pistone
Interview conducted by Nicolette Pistone in Atlanta on March 29, 2015. At the time of this interview, Vernon has the Director of the Georgia Bureau of Investigations since 2003. He started with the GBI in 1973 after graduating from Valdosta State University. In this interview, Vernon discusses the administrative and political challenges of law enforcement.
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Interview with W. C. "Bill" Massee
Nicolette Pistone
Interview conducted by Nicolette Pistone at the Baldwin County Sheriffs Office in Milledgeville, Georgia, on February 10, 2015. At the time of this interview, Bill has been Sheriff of Baldwin County for 27 years. He originally started his career with the Georgia Bureau of Investigations. In this interview, Bill discusses the rewards and discouragement of being sheriff in a rural community.
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Interview with J. Dale Mann
Nicolette Pistone
Interview conducted by Nicolette Pistone at the Georgia Southern University Statesboro campus on April 11, 2014. Dale joined the Tifton Police Department when he was 18 years old and has been in law enforcement since. He has held various positions including FBI agent, academy director, and training instructor. In this interview, Dale discusses some of the laws and events that have shaped law enforcement in Georgia.
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Interview with Joseph "Jack" Lumpkin, Sr.
Jaclyn Grizzell
Interview conducted by Jaclyn Grizell at the Athens-Clark County Police Headquarters in Athens, Georgia, on April 1, 2014. Jack served as Chief of the Athens-Clark County Police Department for 17 years. He also served at other police departments including Toccoa and Albany, Georgia. In this interview, Jack discusses some of the racial tensions he observed in law enforcement during his tenure.
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Interview with Robert "Bob" Eason
Heidi Moye
Interview conducted by Heidi Moye at Savannah, Georgia, on April 15, 2014. Bob was deputized by the Savannah Police Department and worked in their vice and intelligence departments. He has extensive experience in drug and prostitution enforcement. In this interview, Bob discusses the evolving nature of crime in Savannah from an intelligence, or strategic, perspective.
