Joseph Spillane

CHIEF OF POLICE      |      jspillane@gsu.edu

A decorated veteran with nearly 30 years of experience policing the streets of Atlanta, Chief Spillane graduated from the Atlanta police academy as the valedictorian of his class in 1988. He quickly rose through the ranks, serving in five of the city’s six precincts and becoming deputy chief in 2013, when he was appointed to oversee the Atlanta Police Department’s strategic crime-fighting initiatives and ultimately all of Field Operations.

Spillane twice earned the Atlanta Police Department’s Meritorious Service Medal, the department’s second highest commendation, once for removing residents from a burning building and another time for removing a critically wounded man from a basement for medical attention after a shootout with the police.  A Georgia Peace Officers Standards and Training Council certified senior instructor, Spillane is also a former instructor at the Atlanta Police Academy.  He has earned multiple certifications from the Georgia Peace Officer Training and Standards Council and others.

Spillane is a graduate of the Senior Management Institute for Police, Police Executive Research Forum, a leadership course conducted by Harvard professors. Spillane is also a graduate of the Georgia International Law Enforcement Exchange in Israel.  He earned his bachelor’s and master’s degrees in criminal justice from Saint Leo University in Florida.

Spillane retired from the City of Atlanta in 2016 and began his new position as the chief of police for Georgia State.

Anthony Coleman

ASSISTANT CHIEF      acoleman@gsu.edu

Assistant Chief Anthony Coleman has served in the Georgia State University Police Department since 1992. He was appointed Assistant Chief on April 1, 2020. He has held many positions throughout the department during his 28-year career, and most recently was the Commander for the Support Services Division. His tenure as Support Services Commander afforded him the opportunity to create the security operational plan for the new venue and serve as Incident Commander for many events at Georgia State Stadium, to include Georgia State football games, college and high school football games, concerts, professional football games, rugby matches and Georgia State University Commencements Services.  Shortly after the Olympics in 1996, he started Georgia State University’s first 10-officer police bicycle patrol, units which today has now grown to more than 20 officers including GSUPD Bike Response Team.

Assistant Chief Coleman is a member of the International Association of Chiefs of Police, Georgia Chiefs of Police. National Organization of Black Law Enforcement Executives and Georgia Gang Investigators Association.   He earned a Master Degree in Criminal Justice Administration from Columbus State University.   Assistant Chief Coleman has served on the State Certification Committee for several years and is a state Certified Law Enforcement Instructor.

Nicolay Hammond

POLICE OPERATIONS MAJOR (Support Services)|      nhammond1@gsu.edu

Major Nicolay Hammond joined the Georgia State University Police Department in 2004. During her tenure, she has served as a Communications Officer, Patrol Officer, Sergeant, Lieutenant and Captain. In 2006, she was appointed Investigator and joined the Criminal Investigations Division where she investigated criminal violations before returning to the Patrol Division.

In 2012, she was promoted to Sergeant and returned to the Criminal Investigation Division where she supervised the functions of the Criminal Investigations Division as well the agency’s crime analysis and intelligence functions.

In 2015, Hammond was promoted to the rank of Lieutenant and assigned to the Patrol Division where she focused her efforts on crime reductions, managed daily operations and addressed community concerns. Hammond returned to the Criminal Investigations Division and focused her efforts on leveraging new technology and developing strategies to ensure optimal performance in the oversight of the agency’s criminal investigations, background investigation, crime analysis, homeland security, intelligence and the property management functions.

As a Captain, Hammond served as the division commander for the Criminal Investigations Division where implements new strategies to further the department mission and goals.

In addition her GSUPD role, Major Hammond serves as a traffic coordinator at the Georgia World Congress Center where she manages more than 100 law enforcement officers from multiple jurisdiction for events at the Georgia World Congress Center and the Mercedes Benz Stadium. Hammond was instrumental in coordinating and managing large scale events in Centennial Olympic Park to include the 2018 College Football Playoff Championship game and Super Bowl LIII.

Major Hammond earned her Bachelor’s Degree in Criminal Justice from Georgia State University and is a graduate of Columbus State University’s Georgia Law Enforcement Command College, where she earned her Master’s Degree in Public Safety Administration. Hammond is a member and officer in the Georgia Association of Campus Law Enforcement (GACLEA).

Brian K, Lawton

POLICE OPERATIONS MAJOR (Atlanta)|      blawton@gsu.edu

Major Brian K. Lawton began his law enforcement career with the Georgia State University Police Department in 2000. Major Lawton has served as a patrol officer, corporal, sergeant and lieutenant, working various shifts and assignments throughout his career for the department. He has supervised the award-winning Pedestrian Safety Team/Traffic Motors Division and Crime Suppression Team. As a lieutenant, Major Lawton supervised the Criminal Investigations Division and the Internal Affairs Division as the Division Commander. Major Lawton also served as the Interim Chief of Police for Savannah State University and assisted as a team member with selected members of the Board of Regents to assist in the restructure of Savannah State University’s Public Safety operations.

Major Lawton currently supervises the Atlanta Patrol Field Operations Division and the Specialized Units which includes Crime Suppression, Motorcycle Units, Directed Patrol/Bicycle Response Team and the K-9 units.

Major Lawton received his bachelor’s degree in criminal justice from Bloomfield College and his master’s degree in public administration from Capella University. Lawton is also a general and specialized police instructor in defensive tactics for the State of Georgia and has received many certifications pertaining to managing critical incidents. Lawton is a member and officer of the Georgia Association of Campus Law Enforcement, and a member of the Georgia and National Internal Affairs Investigators Association as well as the International Association of Campus Law Enforcement Administrators.

Bart Hulsey

POLICE OPERATIONS MAJOR (Perimeter)|      hhulsey@gsu.edu

Bart Hulsey started his police career at the City of Atlanta Police Department in 1982. In 1987 he accepted a position with the Gwinnett County Police Department. Hulsey steadily rose through the ranks at Gwinnett County serving as a sergeant, lieutenant (shift commander) and major.

During his 11 years as a major, he commanded three different precincts and was commander of the Special Investigations Section (Vice/ Narcotics). During his tenure, his teams set three consecutive records for seizures of illegal narcotics. In 2005 the unit earned the Valor Award as “Unit of the Year” from the Gwinnett County Chamber of Commerce.

Hulsey retired from the Gwinnett County Police Department in 2010 as one of the most decorated officers in the department, having been awarded a Medal of Valor, two Distinguished Service medals and two Police Achievement Medals. In 2012, Hulsey began his career at Georgia Perimeter College. After the consolidation with Georgia State University, he was promoted to the rank of captain and is in charge of the patrol division for the five Perimeter College campuses; with more than 100 officers under his command.

Hulsey holds many Georgia Peace Officer Standards and Training certifications and earned a bachelor’s degree in criminal justice from Mercer University.