View from the cop: Crime & punishment
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AJC.com > Metro > View from the cop > Archives > 2006 > May > 31
Wednesday, May 31, 2006
Joe Citizen makes the difference
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Just a note to tell you that we have been adding to the Sandy Springs Police e-mail report that we will crank up on a weekly basis come July.
We are indeed making progress. We have hired all but a couple of positions and as of this week, assignments have been made as to shifts and days off. SSPD will operate on a 10-hour shift, 4 days on and 3 days off. The shifts will be set up as to overlap during those times we want double-coverage.
We will also have some street-level units operating to handle some of the riff-raff that has grown in the area over the past few months. As we grow, we should see more specialized units come into existence, such as a dedicated traffic unit.
About 35 Fulton County police officers will come on board July 1. These officers will be placed on all three watches to give the department a good base of officers with knowledge of the area and the trends. We have been very fortunate to be able to pick from the best, not only from Fulton, but from other agencies all over the metro area.
Neighborhood watch
We have 68 neighborhood communities wishing to come on board with the Sandy Springs Neighborhood Watch System in July. Most are transitioning from the Fulton County Neighborhood Watch. The system will be similar to the county system with the exception of the program format, which will be a little bit more involved with information. Hopefully, the resources will allow us to show more detail about your area and activity within it. Of course, the weekly reports will continue and bad-guy bashing will pick up where it left off.
Joe Citizen makes the difference
Most really smart people have letters behind their names and large foreheads. Most of those guys agree that modern crime strategies involve the community as part of the information link. Departments with strong ties and communication with the residents and business owners have more success in reducing crime and then keeping it away.
It’s very simple: Information is knowledge. Once we get to where we give you the support that you and your community needs, use it. In all the years of working the street, and although I am a believer in good alarm systems, the vast majority of arrests that I made on burglars and other property criminals were a result of someone getting suspicious and doing something about it. Barking dogs that normally don’t bark, cars and people who look out of place and in suspicious circumstances were good enough reasons to call the police. Responding to those calls netted many arrests. We plan to get back to that. We went you to have no reason NOT to call.
It’s going to be great fun.
Coyote sighting
I got a call Tuesday from a resident on Osner Drive just off of Roswell Road. She said that early Monday she saw what she described as an adult coyote, about 5:15 a.m. walking near her home. The coyote had what appeared to be a dead small animal n its mouth. There have been reports of animals missing from this area. I think with coyotes, where there’s one, there’s more? Keep an eye on the pets.
