
STAFF & Org. Chart
EMERGENCIES: 911
Command Staff

Anthony Coleman
CHIEF [email protected]
Anthony Coleman is the 4th Chief of Georgia State University Police Department. He was appointed Chief April 2022.
Chief Anthony Coleman has been a proud member of the Georgia State University Police Department for over 30 years. During this time, he has been assigned to the uniform patrol division, support services division, and criminal investigation division. Chief Coleman served as Assistant Chief and Interim Chief for over 2 years. Georgia State University is one of the largest campus police department in the country and hold accreditations in The Commission on Accreditation for Law Enforcement Agencies (CALEA), International Association of Campus Law Enforcement Administrators (IACLEA) and Georgia State University Police Department is also State Certified by Georgia Association of Chiefs of Police (GACP). These great achievements make Georgia State University Police Department the only Campus Police Department in Georgia to hold these high standards. Chief Coleman’s tenure as Support Services Commander afforded him the opportunity to create the security operational plan for the new stadium and serve as Incident Commander for many events at Center Parc Stadium, to include Georgia State football games, college and high school football games, concerts, professional football games, rugby matches and Georgia State University Commencement Services. Shorty after the 1996 Olympics, Chief Coleman started Georgia State University’s first 10-officer police bicycle patrol unit, which today has grown to more than 20 officers including the GSUPD Bike Response Team.
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. Chief Coleman also serves on the State of Georgia Certification Committee and is a P.O.S.T. Certified Law Enforcement Instructor.
Chief Coleman and his wife Pam have one child, Kassidy.
Over the past 30 years, Chief Coleman has witnessed Georgia State University’s transformation into an enterprising urban public research institution.

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.