Harper promoted to post commander at GSP Gainesville

GAINESVILLE - Georgia State Patrol Post 6 in Gainesville has a new leader.<br /> <br /> Sgt. G.R. Harper, who has served as assistant post commander of Post 6 since 2011, has been promoted to sergeant first class and takes over as post commander today.<br /> <br /> Harper is a graduate of the 69th Trooper School in 1995. He will mark 21 years with the department in December.<br /> <br /> His career has taken him through assignments in Atlanta, Kennesaw, the Night Hawks, Honor Guard, SWAT, Executive Security, and working two sessions of the Georgia Legislature.<br /> <br /> Harper was promoted to corporal in Athens, then to sergeant in Blue Ridge in 2008.<br /> <br /> Of being named post commander, Harper said, "It's a very humbling experience. I'm very thankful to be here."<br /> <br /> Harper plans to build on the work the post already is doing.<br /> <br /> "I want to continue what is working good here," he said. "I want to make sure we continue to increase DUI enforcement and work on decreasing fatalities.<br /> <br /> "We have had a 56-percent decrease in fatalities, and as much as a 125-percent increase in DUI arrests," Harper said. "We're working more crashes every year. To have the amount of crashes that we're working and to be able to continue the decrease in fatalities and increase DUI arrests is something I'm proud of and plan to continue."<br /> <br /> Another area Harper wants his troopers to focus on is drivers leaving the scene of wrecks.<br /> <br /> "I want to be sure we're aggressive in our investigation of hit-and-run accidents," Harper said. "I want people to know that if they are involved in an accident, they are to remain on scene and provide the necessary information. If they fail to do so, our guys are going to investigate it to the best of their ability and make an arrest if they violate the law."<br /> <br /> Harper, of Braselton, is married and has six children.<br /> <br /> Post 6 has 16 sworn personnel who cover Hall, Banks and White counties.

http://accesswdun.com/article/2014/8/278389