Former Gray police officer charged with felony sexual battery against child under 16
The GBI said Hathaway is no longer employed by the Gray Police Department.
GRAY, Georgia (41NBC/WMGT) — A former Gray Police Department officer has been arrested following an investigation into allegations of inappropriate contact with a child.
The Georgia Bureau of Investigation identified the former officer as 54-year-old William Paul Hathaway of Gray.
According to the GBI, the Gray Police Department requested the investigation July 12 after allegations that Hathaway had inappropriate contact with a child while he was off duty.
The Gray Police Department said it received a complaint involving Hathaway that day concerning alleged conduct that occurred while he was off duty and outside the scope of his official duties. Police Chief Adam Lowe referred the matter to the GBI for an independent investigation and immediately placed Hathaway on paid administrative leave.
According to the department, Hathaway remained on administrative leave throughout the investigation and was no longer employed by the Gray Police Department as of Aug. 7.
The Jones County Sheriff’s Office says Hathaway is charged with felony sexual battery against a child under 16.
Hathaway was booked into the Jones County Jail.
Gray Police Chief Adam Lowe gave the following statement:
“The Gray Police Department has a responsibility to the citizens of Gray to hold its personnel to the highest standards of professionalism, integrity, and accountability. When an allegation is made involving one of our officers, we will not ignore it, minimize it, or allow an internal relationship to interfere with the investigative process. In this case, we immediately referred the matter to the Georgia Bureau of Investigation so that an independent agency could conduct a thorough investigation. We took the appropriate administrative action while that investigation was pending, and the officer is no longer employed by this Department. Our officers are entrusted with significant authority and responsibility, and that trust must be earned and maintained every day. The Gray Police Department will continue to take allegations of misconduct seriously and will act when circumstances require it. At the same time, we will respect the investigative and prosecutorial process and will not make statements that could interfere with that process.”
The Gray Police Department said it will continue to cooperate with the GBI and the district attorney’s office as any remaining prosecutorial decisions are considered. The department said it will not release additional details about the allegations or investigative findings while the matter remains subject to the criminal justice process.
The GBI says the investigation remains active and ongoing.
Anyone with information is asked to contact the GBI’s Regional Investigative Office in Milledgeville at 478-445-4173. Anonymous tips can also be submitted by calling 1-800-597-TIPS (8477), through the GBI’s online tip portal or through the See Something, Send Something mobile app.
Once the investigation is complete, the GBI says the case file will be turned over to the Ocmulgee Judicial Circuit District Attorney’s Office for prosecution.
