Lithonia Police Department

A single Belgian Malinois currently makes up the Lithonia Police Department's K-9 unit in Georgia, and the dog is trained for narcotics detection, bomb detection and patrol work. The team searches for drugs, tracks suspects who run or hide, looks for missing children and wandering older adults, answers officer-needs-help and backup calls, and assists surrounding cities, counties and federal agencies; the department plans to expand the unit as the city grows through annexation. Uniformed patrol, which the department calls its backbone, handles crime suppression, criminal warrants and safety check details, answers 911 calls first, enforces city ordinances and state law, and leads community policing partnerships with residents and businesses. Its Criminal Investigations Division provides all of the department's investigative and crime scene work, with investigators trained in forensic practices and interview and interrogation who take on violent, property and financial crimes, crimes against children and narcotics cases, respond to serious scenes and assist victims. Full-time officers are backed by a Reserve Unit of volunteer, state-certified peace officers who must work a monthly minimum of volunteer hours, can be assigned to any division and receive no pay for their service.

According to the U.S. Census Bureau (ACS 2023), Lithonia city, GA has an estimated population of 2,614.