Whitfield County Sheriff's Office, Georgia
End of Watch: Saturday, December 21, 1996
Age: 30
Tour of Duty: 9 years
Badge Number: 171
Cause of Death: Vehicular assault
Date of Incident: December 20, 1996
Weapon Used: Automobile
Suspect Info: Sentenced to 5 years
Deputy Potts was killed in an automobile accident as he and a reserve deputy were responding to assist another officer on Georgia Highway 71. Their patrol car rolled several times when he swerved to avoid a pickup truck that had pulled out in front of them. Deputy Potts succumbed to his injuries the following day.
The driver of the truck fled the scene of the accident but was arrested the following day. The man was sentenced to 5 years in prison and 14 years of probation.
Deputy Potts had served with the Whitfield County Sheriff's Office for 9 years. He is survived by his wife and three children.