The crack of the bat echoed through the state of Georgia on August 13th, and the energy at the 15th Annual Georgia Retailers Organized Crime Alliance (GROC) Conference felt every bit like opening day at the ballpark. Held at the Cobb County Public Safety Police Academy, this year’s conference was a grand slam, which brought together law enforcement, retail professionals, prosecutors, solution providers, and community partners for a full day of strategy and collaboration in the fight against organized retail crime.
Following opening ceremonies, Deputy Chief Ben Cohen from the Cobb County Police Department welcomed the crowd, emphasizing the importance of public and private sector partnerships, officially kicking off our 15th year.
The conference’s middle innings were packed with hard-hitting sessions. Investigator Justin Vath and Assistant District Attorney Rachel Murphy from the Cherokee County District Attorney’s Office walked attendees through a real world ORC investigation, showcasing the teamwork and effort needed to turn a series of shoplifting incidents into a meaningful conviction.
Next up, Section Chief Tim Ruffini and Chief Investigator John Gosart from the Office of the Attorney General’s Organized Retail Crime Unit offered a behind the scenes look at the unit’s year-long efforts to strike out retail crime across the state. Their insights were a playbook of persistence, innovation, and interagency coordination.
Captain Matt Lawson of the Knox County Sheriff’s Office followed with a session that revealed how retail theft and drug trafficking often share the same dugout. Lawson’s presentation was a curveball that challenged attendees to think beyond traditional crime silos.
Between innings, attendees enjoyed networking breaks and had a chance to visit with all the wonderful vendors and community partners who made the event possible. This was highlighted by a meet and greet autograph session by slugger Dale Murphy. These moments were opportunities to build partnerships and share strategies across the field.
During the seventh inning stretch, GROC and Kennesaw State University introduced this year’s scholarship recipients—the result of a successful partnership that has been established for years and has given students increased opportunities to pursue degrees in law and criminal justice.
The game’s closing session, led by Chata Spikes of Spiked Communications in partnership with the Georgia Association of Women in Public Safety (GAWPS), was a walk-off home run. Her talk, “Communicating Success, Building Your Brand, and Leading in the Retail Crime Fight,” inspired attendees to step into leadership roles and become champions of change in their communities.
In the end, the 15th Annual GROC Retail Crime Conference wasn’t just a conference, it was a championship game for those committed to protecting our communities from the growing threat of organized retail crime. And by all accounts, this year’s event was a grand slam.
