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Covington police chief honored for 25 years on job
Stacy Cotton
Covington Police Department celebrated its 2022 Annual Awards Ceremony Sunday, Feb. 5, where Mayor Steve Horton, right, read a proclamation honoring Feb. 5, 2023, as "Chief Stacy L. Cotton Day" in honor of Cotton's 25 years of service as the city's police chief. (Special | Covington Police Department)
Staff Report
Published: Feb 8, 2023, 12:09 PM

COVINGTON, Ga. — Covington Police Department celebrated its 2022 Annual Awards Ceremony Sunday, Feb. 5, where Mayor Steve Horton read a proclamation proclaiming Feb. 5, 2023, as "Chief Stacy L. Cotton Day" in honor of Cotton's 25 years of service as the city's police chief.

Cotton started his tenure at the Covington Police Department in January 1987 and after being promoted to sergeant, lieutenant, and assistant chief, he became the department's chief of police in 1997. 

Throughout his service as chief, he has served as president of the Georgia Association of Chiefs of Police, was named “Outstanding Chief of the Year” by the Georgia Association of Chiefs of Police for 2012-2013, and is a "Life Member” of the International Association of Chiefs of Police. 
April 3 crash kills two young adults, injures third
Newton County Sheriff Car---WEB
Kate Verity
Published: Apr 4, 2025, 10:29 PM

NEWTON COUNTY — Around 10 a.m. on Thursday, a head-on collision on Highway 212 left two young adults dead and a third hospitalized.

Joe Navarro, 21, was driving the vehicle and Breanna Smith, 18, was in the passenger seat. Katie New, 20, sat between them.

According to the Newton County Sheriff’s Office, the vehicle lost control while going around a curve and crossed the centerline, where it collided head-on with a box truck. The crash report shows that their vehicle traveled another hundred feet after impact before coming to a stop. It spun, ended up facing the opposite direction on the shoulder of the opposite lane.

Navarro and Smith were pronounced dead at the scene of the accident. New was airlifted to Grady Hospital. Her current condition is not known. 

Navarro, Smith and New were not believed to be wearing seatbelts when the collision occurred.

The driver of the box truck was not reported to have suffered any injuries.

This is an ongoing story. The News will post updates as they are made available.