Ellijay Police Department Adds Three Police Officers

Ellijay, Gilmer County, GA, February 24, 2015: The Ellijay Police Department is pleased to announce the addition of three police officers. The pre-employment selection process was extensive and included a background investigation, psychological examination, polygraph examination, and a written exercise. The final recommendation for hire was made by a hiring board following their review of the officers’ files, written exercises, and oral interviews. The newly employed officers are as follows:

Officer Michael Stanford – Upon graduating from the North Central Georgia Law Enforcement Academy in 2013, Officer Stanford began his career at the Gilmer County Sheriff’s Office as a jailor and was soon promoted to the uniform patrol division. He came to the Ellijay Police Department in the middle of 2014 and has completed the agency’s 14 week Field training Program and six month probationary status. He has received training in Criminal Apprehension for Patrol, DUI Detection and Standardized Field Sobriety, Advanced Roadside Impaired Driving Enforcement, Crisis Intervention Team Training, and Response to Domestic Violence. Michael is very involved with Bread and Bowl Ministries and currently serves as a youth pastor at Southside Community Church.

Officer Robin Hillhouse – Officer Hillhouse is a resident of Gilmer County. She began her career in Law Enforcement with the Pickens County Sheriff’s Office in 2009 as a Detention Officer.  She graduated from North Central Georgia Law Enforcement Academy in 2010 and was reassigned to the Patrol Division.  She possesses Networking and Microcomputer Specialist Diplomas and has continued education in government.  She is certified in Crisis Intervention as well as Hostage Negotiations. She has completed her six month probationary status and stands to have big shoes to fill as the second policewoman in EPD’s history.

Officer Noel Loera is a resident of Gilmer County. Noel is a graduate of Gilmer High School in Ellijay, Georgia. Following graduation, Noel enlisted in the U.S. Army and served his country in Iraq being awarded the Combat Infantry Badge. Noel is currently a member of the U.S. Army Reserves. Noel began his career in public safety with the Pickens County Sheriff’s Office in 2012 where he served as a detention officer and obtained his Basic Peace Officer Certification in 2014 by attending the Georgia Public Safety Training Center. He is currently assigned to Uniform Patrol in the agency’s Field Training Program and upon completion of the FTO program will be assigned to full duty. Noel is Crisis Intervention Team trained and speaks fluent Spanish.

These officers have already shown themselves to be great assets to the agency and we ask that the members of our community join with us in welcoming them aboard.