Anthony Coleman

CHIEF      [email protected]

Chief Anthony Coleman
4th Chief of the Georgia State University Police Department
Appointed Chief April 2022

Chief Anthony Coleman is a distinguished leader with over 33 years of dedicated service to the Georgia State University Police Department (GSUPD). Throughout his career, he has held various critical roles, including assignments in the Uniform Patrol Division, Support Services Division, and Criminal Investigation Division. Prior to his appointment as Chief, he served as Assistant Chief and Interim Chief for over two years, demonstrating his exceptional leadership and commitment to the department.

GSUPD is one of the largest campus police departments in the United States and hold prestigious accreditations from the Commission on Accreditation for Law Enforcement Agencies (CALEA), the International Association of Campus Law Enforcement Administrators (IACLEA) and state certification from the Georgia Association of Chiefs of Police (GACP). These accomplishments make GSUPD the only campus police department in Georgia to achieve such high standards, a testament to Chief Coleman’s leadership and the department’s commitment to excellence.

As the former Support Services Commander, Chief Coleman played a pivotal role in developing the security operational plan for the new Center Parc Stadium. He served as Incident Commander for numerous high-profile events, including Georgia State football games, college and high school football championships, concerts, professional football games, rugby matches and Georgia State University Commencement Services. His strategic planning and operational expertise ensured the safety and success of these events.

Shortly after the 1996 Olympics, Chief Coleman established GSUPD’s first 10-officer police bicycle patrol unit. Under his leadership, the unit has grown to over 20 officers, including the specialized GSUPD Bike Response Team, enhancing community engagement and public safety on campus.

Chief Coleman is an active member of several professional organizations, including the International Association of Chiefs of Police (IACP), Georgia Association Chiefs of Police (GACP), the National Organization of Black Law Enforcement Executives (NOBLE) and the Georgia Gang Investigators Association (GGIA).   He holds a master’s degree in criminal justice administration from Columbus State University and is a P.O.S.T. certified law enforcement instructor. Additionally, he serves on the State of Georgia Certification Committee, further contributing to the advancement of law enforcement standards.

Beyond his professional achievements, Chief Coleman is a devoted family man. He and his wife Pam are proud parents to their daughter, Kassidy.

Over the past three decades, Chief Coleman has witnessed and contributed to Georgia State University’s remarkable transformation into a leading urban public research institution. His unwavering dedication to public safety, innovation in policing and commitment to community engagement have left an indelible mark on the university and its police department.

Nicolay Hammond

ASSISTANT CHIEF    [email protected]

Assistant Chief 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 she  implemented new strategies to further the department mission and goals.

In addition to her GSUPD role, Assistant Chief Hammond served as a traffic coordinator at the Georgia World Congress Center where she managed 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.

Assistant Chief 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 (Perimeter)|      [email protected]

Major Brian K. Lawton began his law enforcement career with the Georgia State University Police Department in the year 2000. Major Lawton has served in various positions in the department ranging from patrol officer to Major of Field Operations. Major Lawton has supervised the award-winning Pedestrian Safety Team/Traffic Motors Division and Crime Suppression Team as a Sergeant. As a Lieutenant, Major Lawton supervised the Criminal Investigations Division and the Internal Affairs as the Division Commander. Major Lawton served as the Captain of Auxiliary and Support Services and later as the Major of Field Operations in Atlanta, supervising patrol and specialized unit operations from 2017-2021.  Major Lawton currently supervises the Perimeter Operations as the Field Operations Commander for all GSU Perimeter satellite campuses.

Major Lawton had the opportunity to serve in the role of the Interim Chief of Police for Savannah State University and assisted as a transitional team member with selected members of the Board of Regents to assist in the restructure of Savannah State University’s Public Safety operations in 2018, and 2019. In 2019, Major Lawton received a letter from the Chancellor Steve Wrigley thanking him for his assistance with the BOR transitional team in successfully restructuring Savannah State University’s public safety division for SSU.

Major Lawton received his bachelor’s degree in criminal justice from Bloomfield College and his master’s degree in Public Administration (MPA) from Capella University and a second master’s degree in Public Safety Administration (MPSA) from Command College at Columbus State University. Major Lawton is also a POST General Instructor and Specialized instructor in Defensive Tactics for the State of Georgia and has received many certifications pertaining to Emergency Management in managing critical incidents which include the National Incident Management System (NIMS). Major Lawton is also an active member and of the Georgia Association of Campus Law Enforcement (GACLEA), the National Information Officer Association (NIOA), the National Organization of Black Law Enforcement (NOBLE), and a member of both the Georgia and National Internal Affairs Investigators Association as well as the International Association of Campus Law Enforcement Administrators (IACLEA).

Ashley Hurst

POLICE OPERATIONS MAJOR (Atlanta)|      [email protected]

Major Ashley Hurst began her law enforcement career with the Georgia State University Police Department in 2011 as a patrol officer. Shortly after, she transitioned to the Special Operations Division, where she was promoted to Sergeant over the Motor unit.

Major Hurst became Georgia State PD’s very own first motorcycle instructor and one of very few female motorcycle instructors in the region. During her time in the Special Operations Division, Major Hurst became certified in several tactical areas, including Active Shooter Instructor, SWAT, and Tactical Field Operator (TFO). After 6.5 years, she transferred to the Training, Recruitment, and Background Investigations Division, becoming GSUPD’s first and only female firearms instructor and Range Master as a Lieutenant over the division.

Major Hurst acquired a BS degree from Georgia State University, a MS degree from the University of Phoenix, and a Post-master’s degree from Northcentral University. Major Hurst recently acquired her second master’s degree from Columbus State University’s Executive Command College.

In Spring 2022, Major Hurst had the unique opportunity to serve as Interim/Acting Chief of Police for East Georgia State College. Throughout this experience, Major Hurst assisted the university and the police department in bridging gaps with local citizens. As a result of her exceptional service, she received a prestigious letter of commendation from the university’s president, President David L. Schester.

As a result of her well-accomplished background and advanced credentials, Major Hurst was able to excel up the leadership ladder, where she was promoted to the rank of Major in March 2023. Her current role is Major over the Atlanta Campus Field Operation Division to include Specialized Units and Atlanta Metropolitan State College as well as Training, Recruitment, and Background Investigations.

Major Hurst is a member of the International Association of Chiefs of Police (IACP), the Georgia Association of Chiefs of Police (GACP), the National Organization of Black Law Enforcement Executives (NOBLE), the National Association of Women Law Enforcement Executives (NAWLEE), Georgia Association of Law Enforcement Firearms Instructors (GALEFI), Atlanta Metropol, and the Fraternal Order of Police (FOP).

What motivates her to continue to climb the leadership ladder is the fact that women only make up 13% of law enforcement nationwide. Of that 13%, only 3.5% are in a leadership position. Major Hurst wants to beat those odds and give motivation to other young women who may think it is impossible.

David V. Hickey

POLICE OPERATIONS MAJOR (Atlanta)    [email protected]

Major David V. Hickey was a Georgia State University student when he joined the University Police in 2001. Between 2001 and 2008, Major Hickey was assigned to the Uniformed Patrol Division, the Bicycle Patrol and Directed Patrol Units, and the Criminal Investigations Division (CID).  He was promoted to Sergeant in January of 2008 where he supervised the Uniformed Patrol Division before being transferred back to CID as the division supervisor.  Major Hickey was promoted to Lieutenant in 2012 while in CID where he remained the division commander before returning to the Uniform Patrol Division in 2014 as a Watch Commander on the Atlanta campus and a Campus Commander at the Clarkston, Decatur, and Newton campuses.  In 2022, Major Hickey served as the Interim Chief of Police for Atlanta Metropolitan State College.  He was promoted to Major in 2023 and currently serves in the Auxiliary Services Division, which is responsible for Center Parc Stadium police operations, university special events, the Security Division, Key Control, Fleet and Supply, and CORE (Crime Prevention, HOPE Team, and social media).

Major Hickey has a Bachelor of Science in Criminal Justice from Georgia State University and is pursuing a graduate degree in Public Safety Administration from Columbus State University.  He is a member of the Georgia Association of Chiefs of Police.