UNIFORM PATROL DIVISION
Uniform Patrol Division is the backbone of any Municipal Police Department or Sheriff’s Office.
- UPD provides 24 hour coverage of the City Limits of Cumming in various capacities. Officers conduct traffic stops, respond to calls for service, and communicate with local business owners, among many other daily tasks.
- UPD Officers and Sergeants drive marked patrol vehicles equipped with basic evidence collection kits, traffic control and direction equipment, along with other supplies necessary for daily patrol duties.
- UPD is normally the first contact that a citizen will have with the Police Department after a request or call for service.
- Our Officers undergo regular, continuous training on various critical aspects of Law Enforcement and are required to maintain set levels of training each year to ensure that they are adept at understanding and enforcing the current National and State laws.
- UPD is responsible for normal Police activities, as well as details such as Funeral Escorts and special events like the Fourth of July Parade and Cumming Fair and Festival.
Officers primarily respond to calls for service that are dispatched through the Forsyth County 911 Center. You can reach the Forsyth County 911 Center for all EMERGENCY CALLS by dialing 911. For all non emergency calls you can call 770-781-2000 and press 1.
Police Investigations
Need to speak to an Investigator?
For information on a current case or you need to speak to an investigator call the City of Cumming Police Department at 770.781.2000.
Police Command Staff
Chief PJ Girvan
Chief of Police
pgirvan@cummingpd.net.
Chief PJ Girvan began his law enforcement career with the Atlanta Police Department, where he first served in the Uniform Patrol Division. He later joined the elite Apex Unit, targeting violent street crimes involving guns and drugs. Chief Girvan concluded his time with Atlanta PD in the Executive Protection Unit, where he provided security for the Mayor of Atlanta. A native of Forsyth County, Georgia, Chief Girvan returned to his roots and began serving with the Forsyth County Sheriff’s Office. There, he worked in the Uniform Patrol Division and later transitioned to a multi-jurisdictional narcotics unit, further honing his expertise in drug enforcement. Following his time with the sheriff’s office, Chief Girvan joined the City of Cumming Police Department. He has held multiple roles, including Uniform Patrol Officer and Detective in the Criminal Investigations Division. During his time as a detective, he gained extensive experience investigating aggravated assaults, domestic violence, child abuse, and complex fraud cases. He also served as a Uniform Patrol Supervisor, where he led a team of officers in their day-to-day operations, ensuring the department’s effective response to 911 calls. In June 2023, Chief Girvan was appointed as the Chief of Police for the City of Cumming, a role in which he proudly serves today. He holds a bachelor’s degree in Organizational Management and Leadership from Reinhardt University and is a graduate of Northwestern University’s School of Police Staff and Command. He is currently continuing his education further, pursuing a Master's Degree with Florida State University. With a deep commitment to the community, Chief Girvan is dedicated to leading the City of Cumming Police Department to new heights, focusing on the safety and needs of its citizens.
Lieutenant Anthony Hodgkins
Uniform Patrol Division Commander
thodgkins@cummingpd.net
Lieutenant Anthony Hodgkins began his career in law enforcement earlier than most, at the age of eighteen. After graduating from Northeast Georgia Law Enforcement Academy in 2005, he started as a uniform patrol officer with the Union County Sheriff’s Office, later joining their SWAT team as a breacher and shield operator. Lt. Hodgkins served as the agency liaison for the Governor’s Office of Highway Safety regional traffic network and served as a field training officer for incoming officers. In 2012, Lt. Hodgkins joined the Forsyth County Sheriff’s Office, serving out of the North Precinct in uniform patrol, but moved to the School Resource Officer unit in 2013. In 2017, Lt. Hodgkins began his post-secondary education journey. He first graduated from Reinhardt University with an Associates of Business Administration. He has recently graduated from the University of North Georgia with a Bachelors in Political Science, and is currently completing his Masters in Public Administration. Before joining the Cumming Police Department, Lt. Hodgkins served in the Office of Professional Standards as an instructor and supervisor. Lt. Hodgkins has served as a sergeant in uniform patrol, provided input for budgets, personnel, fleet and much more since beginning his service with the Cumming Police Department. Lt. Hodgkins has many instructor certifications and supervises other instructors within the agency, with a great understanding of how important proper training is for law enforcement officers. In his recent promotion to Lieutenant, Lt. Hodgkins will be responsible for the uniform patrol division, traffic enforcement unit, tactical operations, training, fleet, equipment and recruiting. Lt. Hodgkins believes that through proper leadership, the Cumming Police Department will continue to progress and provide the utmost professionalism and standards for our community.
Lieutenant Nicole Esquilin
Criminal Investigation Division Commander
nesquilin@cummingpd.net
Lt. Nicole Esquilin graduated in 1994 from Georgia State University with a Bachelor of Science degree, majoring in Criminal Justice. From there, she began her law enforcement career in 1994 with the City of Atlanta Police Department. Her first assignment with the department was a foot beat in East Atlanta. From there, she worked the Uniform Patrol Division, answering 911 calls. Eventually working her way up to detective; she served in the vice unit, the narcotics unit with focus on “the bluff”, the sex crimes unit, the homicide unit, and the internal affairs unit. During her time in sex crimes unit, she worked approximately 100 rapes in a two-year time span. While in the homicide unit, she was the lead detective on over 50 murders and assisted APD’s 17-man homicide team in over 500 murders in a seven-year time span. Focusing her career on crimes against persons, she has vast courtroom and trial experience, working alongside many talented and skilled attorneys in Atlanta. As a result of her team’s investigations, an investigative show was developed to highlight their homicide work known as “Atlanta Justice,” and can be found on the ID channel. Lt. Esquilin also participated in other homicide investigative shows such as Snapped, Fatal Attraction, ATL Homicide, Murder by Numbers, How I Caught My Killer, and Real Murders of Atlanta. While in homicide and for the two years she served in the internal affairs unit, she was member of the “police shooting team;” that investigated officer involved shootings. Finishing her time with the City of Atlanta, she worked for the Fulton County District Attorney’s Office preparing for major trials to include high profile gang member/murder trials. After being invited to join the City of Cumming Police Department as part of the Criminal Investigations Division in 2019, she was promoted to Sergeant in 2020 where she has led her team in a multitude of investigations ranging from aggravated assaults to child molestations and complex fraud cases. In her recent promotion to Lieutenant, she will be responsible for administrative tasks, recruiting and background investigations, internal affairs investigations, as well as continuing to lead the criminal investigations division. Her primary goal is to give citizens and victims impeccable customer service.
