Visitor Guide

Police Precinct at Downtown Welcome Center Officially Opens

Posted April 21, 2015 by Kristi Kent in News
(Pictured L to R) Lisa Smith, Dave Robertson, Chief Bill Shiflett, Chief Elaine Snow, Becky Smyth, Rick Watters, Charlene Mathis, Kathy Mathis

(Pictured L to R) Lisa Smith, Dave Robertson, Chief Bill Shiflett, Chief Elaine Snow, Becky Smyth, Rick Watters, Charlene Mathis, Kathy Mathis

The Police Precinct at the Downtown Welcome Center officially opened today.  The welcome center will serve as a precinct for the Rome City Police, Floyd County Police and Floyd County Sheriff and was coordinated through the support of the Greater Rome Convention and Visitors Bureau and Downtown Development Authority.

The Downtown Welcome Center was chosen for the precinct because of its central location. “It’s great to have the visibility and additional oversight at the town green and urban riverfront,” said Lisa Smith, Greater Rome Convention & Visitors Bureau Executive Director. “It’s central to the trails, Forum and 3rd Avenue parking deck making it one of our busiest local attractions and destinations year round.”

Officials from the county police, sheriff’s office, and city police are excited about having the downtown presence and believe it will be appreciated by the community.  “It is an honor for members of the Floyd County Police Department to participate in the Downtown Welcome Center Precinct.” said Chief Bill Shiflett.  “Our relationship with the Rome Police Department and Floyd County Sheriff Department has always been outstanding and we look forward to working closely with them in the downtown area.”

Sheriff Tim Burkhalter echoed the sentiment of how well all the organizations work as a team.  “We all strive to keep the citizens and visitors safe while enjoying our downtown.  The environment is safe, clean and family friendly – we look forward to being a bigger part of the dynamic at the Downtown Precinct.”

Ann Arnold, Downtown Development Authority Director agrees, “The recent partnership with CVB, Rome City and Floyd County Police is another testament to Rome’s dedication to making downtown a safe place to live, work and play.”

The police precinct official opening coincides with Georgia Cities Week which celebrates and showcases the many services that cities provide.  The police precinct is located at the Downtown Welcome Center at 300 W. 1st Street. Officers will have allocated parking close to the precinct to ensure access to the building.

For questions related to the precinct opening, contact the Greater Rome Convention & Visitors Bureau at 706.295.5576.


The City of Rome takes pride in a heritage of prosperity, and a future focused on providing the community with outstanding services for citizens and for those visiting Rome. The city values strong employment, leading education, public safety, supportive culture, and community recreation. Rome welcomes residents and visitors year-round to enjoy activities in the heart of the community, including the Forum and downtown.

About the Author

Our Georgia's Rome tourism team works hard to curate content to help you discover and explore our beautiful town! We want to ensure our content is up-to-date and accurate; so please let us know if we ever overlook an important detail! This post was originally written by Kristi Kent and is updated by staff.

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