AUGUSTA, Ga. — Eugene Brantley, sheriff of the Richmond County Sheriff’s Office, sat down with pastors and other religious leaders from around Augusta to walk through crime numbers and ask churches to help his office reach residents.
Brantley described the gathering as a first step and said he wants more of them. The session covered how the office runs, its outreach work and its crime figures.
The numbers his office shared compare 2025 with this year so far. Homicides are down 21 percent, aggravated assaults are down 25 percent and auto thefts have dropped 37 percent. The office also counted 30 percent fewer rapes, 23 percent fewer second-degree burglaries and a 55 percent drop in business robberies.
One category moved the wrong way. Thefts from vehicles rose 14 percent, a reminder for drivers to lock up and keep valuables out of sight.
Brantley said churches have long anchored neighborhoods, which makes them a natural channel for hearing concerns and passing along safety information. Deputies also pointed leaders to the My Sheriff’s app, which pushes alerts on incidents, traffic problems and road closures, and urged residents to report anything suspicious.
The sheriff’s office runs an anonymous crime reporting form on its website for tips, along with a contact form for messages to the sheriff. It also offers ReportIt, a free tool that lets residents log serial numbers and photos of their belongings ahead of time in case of a theft or loss, which can help deputies return stolen property.
Brantley said his office is open to invitations from churches and community groups that want deputies to visit and talk about safety.
Section: More Augusta GA crime news
Filed under: Augusta GA Public Safety News
