Dispatcher fired after downtown crash, DUI arrest

An Athens-Clarke County Police dispatcher loses her job after her arrest on DUI charges: Athens-Clarke County Police say Laura Ricketts hit two cars after running a red light at Hull and Broad Streets in downtown Athens. Police say Ricketts had just wrapped up her first year as a local 9-1-1 dispatcher: she was hired in October of last year. 

From the Athens-Clarke County Police Dept…

On 11/11/2016 officers were dispatched to the intersection of Hull Street and Broad Street in reference to a multi-vehicle accident. The investigation found that the driver of the at-fault vehicle, Laura (Beth) Ricketts, ran a traffic signal (red light) striking one vehicle, and continued, striking another vehicle. Ms. Ricketts, who at this point was sitting in the passenger side seat of the car, was questions by officers and was unable to tell officers what had occurred. Officers noted that she had a strong odor of an alcoholic beverage coming from her person and was unsteady on her feet. The drivers of the other vehicles involved told officers that Ms. Ricketts was the only person in the vehicle and was the driver. Ms. Ricketts was arrested for DUI on scene and transported to the Clarke County Jail.

Ms. Ricketts was employed by the Athens-Clarke County Police Department as a Communication Officer, where she served as a 9-1-1 dispatcher. Ms. Ricketts was hired on 10/24/2016, and her employment with the ACCPD was terminated on 11/13/2017 due to this incident.