VALDOSTA — A Valdosta police officer has been cited with failure to use headlights related to the collision of his squad car and another vehicle Tuesday morning.

At approximately 5 a.m. Tuesday, Valdosta Police Officer David Fawcett collided with a Valdosta Daily Times newspaper delivery driver’s vehicle while responding to a burglary call, according to a report issued by the Valdosta Police Department.

According to a police report, Fawcett received a burglary in-progress call and responded from East Park Avenue. The officer pulled out quickly and failed to notice the headlights to his patrol vehicle were off, according to the VPD report.

After he pulled out, the newspaper carrier did not see the patrol car and moved from the center lane to the same lane as the officer’s vehicle. The vehicles collided and both drivers received minor injuries, the report states.

The officer was issued a citation for not operating his headlights. The report states any officer found in violation of Georgia traffic laws is subject to disciplinary action per department policy.

“As we have demonstrated over and over again, we police ourselves,” Valdosta Police Chief Brian Childress said in a statement. “Officer Fawcett made a mistake and he was cited like any other citizen. He will be subject to disciplinary action but he is a good officer who was responding to an emergency call.” 

Thomas Lynn is a government and education reporter for The Valdosta Daily Times. He can be reached at (229)244-3400 ext. 1256