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DEL.ICIO.USWhat’s the 411 on Snellville police news?
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
The Snellville Police Department has been in the news lately — and the subject hasn’t been crime.
Snellville’s mayor announced that the city plans to buy land near city hall for a new police headquarters.
Then the department’s chief, Roy Whitehead, was named Public Safety Officer of the Year for the county. The honor was announced Friday at the Valor Awards, coordinated by the Gwinnett Chamber of Commerce.
You might wonder “Why?” Why does Snellville need a new police headquarters, and why did the city’s police chief merit such an honor?
Here’s some background:
The police department has long operated out of buildings designed for other purposes. The previous police department on U.S. 78 had been a Walton Electric Membership Cooperative building. The current Snellville Police Department on Lenora Church Road was home to a private utilities business.
While the city demonstrated good stewardship in recycling the buildings for its purposes, there are reasons it is now looking to build a new headquarters.
• The department is outgrowing its 12,000-square-foot building. The current building does not provide the interview rooms, record and evidence storage and other specialized spaces the department needs.
• It has no elevator and extra measures are required to accommodate the disabled.
• The existing building is at the southern edge of the city, not centrally located. The new location would provide police better access to major roads.
• Money is available for the land purchase, building design and partial construction from the 2004 Special Local Option Sales Tax. If voters agree in November to continue the sales tax, money from that will be used to cover remaining construction costs.
• The city wants to consolidate its operations in a municipal campus near U.S. 78 and Oak Road, where the new city hall and senior center have been established.
Now, about the police chief:
Whitehead came to Snellville in 2004 from Summerville, S.C., where he served as police chief. He is from Athens (Ga.) and wanted to move closer to family.
After arriving, Whitehead asked his employees what was needed. He quickly added spotlights for patrol cars, allowed officers to be equipped with two sets of handcuffs and latex gloves and emphasized aggressive criminal patrol, in which officers making routine stops look for indicators of more serious criminal activity.
In the last four years, the department has established a canine unit that has helped in drug arrests and tracking offenders (it is adding its third dog soon). It provided a bicycle unit for better patrol of shopping areas and festivals. It added motorcycles that can get to the heart of traffic backups more easily than a patrol car and was the first city department in Gwinnett to institute a commercial vehicle enforcement unit that can address problems with truck traffic through the city.
Less than three months ago, the department became the first city police in Gwinnett to use “electronic warrant interface,” which allows officers to communicate with judges through a computer when a warrant is needed, rather than driving to Lawrenceville for a physical meeting. Since that operation began, 65 trips to Lawrenceville have been saved.
Snellville Police is moving ahead with other technological advances, including a record management system that allows officers to file reports remotely using a laptop. The system makes reports available more quickly and will provide citizens with Internet access to public records.
Under the direction of the city council, the department also established a quality of life unit that addresses code violations in neighborhoods, such as houses not up to standards. That unit - which was initially overwhelmed with complaints - now is averaging 66 cases a month.
During the past four years, the police department has grown from 38 to 50 sworn officers. The number of traffic accidents has dropped significantly. Serious crimes within Snellville city limits dropped from 2005 to 2006. Crime in 2007 was 3 percent higher than the previous year, but arrests kept pace, and Mayor Jerry Oberholtzer said the rise reflected the addition of units and police being more pro-active in addressing crime.
“Actually, we are even safer because we are making more cases,” Oberholtzer said.
The list of achievements continues, but you get the drift.
Whitehead regularly diverts credit to his employees and to Snellville’s city council and mayor.
There is truth in that. Ideas and support from above and below have directly and indirectly led to the improvements.
But the progress reflects departmental leadership.
““He came in and has been very innovative and greatly improved morale,” Oberholtzer said. Whitehead also found grants, community contributions and other alternative funding to pay for many of his improvements, the mayor said.
In a video shown at the awards ceremony, Lt. Tommy Taylor of the Snellville Police Department also mentioned Whitehead’s practice of personally assisting officers on the street.
Whitehead later explained that he answers police calls and provides backup to officers to stay in touch with what an officer encounters.
“I just like to know what our people are facing.”
Mayor Pro Tem Warren Auld said two of Whitehead’s accomplishments — the high quality of the force and public trust in the department — are not easily measured but exist.
“This chief draws around him a group of men and women who are extremely talented and trained.” Auld said. “The caliber of people who want to come and work for this chief is very high. … The way he deals with citizens and the way he deals with police, the chief has created a trust in our police force that is unmatched in Gwinnett.”
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By xtimastah
April 3, 2008 7:52 AM | Link to this
Sounds very impressive!
By One Man's View
April 3, 2008 8:29 AM | Link to this
The location of the current Snellville police dept is obscure - easy to miss. It needs to be on or near Main St.
The dept seems to be taking a pro-active stance in upgrading methods and in crime prevention. That’s all important. One thing that is often not stated is the importance of the police dept and individual policemen in interfacing with the public. Professionalism and courtesy are paramount. Indifference or hostility by police representatives do more long term harm than can be imagined. Who wants to call a jerk or be put off. I’m not saying it is a problem, but Chief Whitehead needs to make sure of exemplary officer behavior before he adds gadgets to patrol cars.
By Just the Facts
April 3, 2008 8:37 AM | Link to this
What’s the real 411…more like 911. I admit he has achieved some very good success considering the state of constant turmoil among Coucnil. Yet on the flip side, Council acquires votes by spending more money on police through the scare tactic that we are going to make you safe. The department had no where to go but up when he came. He is making the same mistakes that his predecessor has made by getting very involved in politics to achieve or manipulate Councl and other employees (non-police department). He is not a team player and has alienated most of the non police department employees. These tactics of divide and conquor eventually led to the requested retirement of former Chief of Police Jimmy Davis and I predict will eventually catch Chief Whitehead (unless he takes the Athens Chief’s job). Of course Snellville politics is one of the worst in the state so it is amazing in itself he and other department heads are still standing.
By Jais AAA duluth
April 3, 2008 10:35 AM | Link to this
Just another money-grubbing attempt by cops who really could do without.
Snelville = duluth pd with a hint of imbred.
WHY do they need a huge new department?
they don’t. It’s just another pork-barrel sceme to get them shiny new things so they look cool.
By One Man's View
April 3, 2008 2:02 PM | Link to this
Here’s hoping that the Snellville PD never becomes like the stormtrooper Duluth PD.
By Flat Foot
April 4, 2008 2:23 PM | Link to this
The Snellville Police department is doing a very good job, but do we need to spend more tax dollars on another building when we have so many vacant ones on Hwy 78. Some of those building could be retro fitted and provide a cost savings to the taxpayers. I am sure the police officers would rather have a pay increases or better resources than a new building.
By Concerned Citizen
April 4, 2008 5:28 PM | Link to this
AAA,
When it comes to “Imbredding”, the pot shouldn’t call the kettle black!
I thought your beef was with the Duluth PD? Now your just taking shots at a pretty good PD. You don’t have an intelligent thing to say, your just a cop hater! Is the Snellville PD doing “DUI Traps” also? Your a moron! How’s your drunken Korean exchange student girlfriend?
By Gwinnett Officer
April 4, 2008 5:39 PM | Link to this
Wow! Two pairs of handcuffs! Spotlights! Using laptops in 2008! Looking for more serious criminal activity on patrol!
Wow! So what your saying is that the Snellville PD is now doing the same things that most of the PD’s have been doing for the last 20 years. And now they have basic equipment that most other PD’s had 15-25 years ago! Snellville should be really proud!
Wow! Before you start tooting the Snellville PD horn, check and see how great these “accomplishments” really are. Oh yeah, and everyone in Snellville is not someone.
AAA,
I think your an idiot also.
By Just in Case
April 4, 2008 6:28 PM | Link to this
Concerned Citizen and Gwinnett Officer it is “you’re” not “your” … go back to school!!
By Bronco
April 5, 2008 9:40 AM | Link to this
I have lived in the city of Snellville for 8 years. On two occassions, I’ve requested the police to respond to a neighbors house. Both responses were quick and both officers stoppped by my house to advise me of their findings. These officers are professional. My only complaint would be the overkill of laser enforcement on Dogwood Road. One officer is there everyday. I think they should call an arson investigator on him because he has burned that road out. Ohter than that, I fully support this department and any improvements they are seeking! By the way, I have never gotten a ticket there but the camera on Hwy 78 got me. lol
By Mark
April 7, 2008 10:56 AM | Link to this
The Snellville PD isn’t qualified to pick up road kill.
By Mark
April 8, 2008 11:55 AM | Link to this
Hey Snellville P.D. How about rounding up the illegals instead of harassing actual Americans?
By Real Snellvillian!!!
April 10, 2008 2:46 AM | Link to this
The Snellville Police have had remodeled building after remodeled building for as long as I can remember and I think they and the City deserve a nice new police headquarters, even if it means they will be a little bit farther away from me. They do a good job and they deserve the same respect that EVERY law person deserves!!!! Why on Why do the job slackers and mindless KnowItAll start ruining every blog????? JSH I know Mindless KnowItAll is an oxi moron, but you gotta remember the emphasize is on moron.
By Tony
April 10, 2008 9:18 AM | Link to this
Snellville- “The Lithonia of Gwinnett”
By Sue
April 11, 2008 9:52 AM | Link to this
I appreciate your positive comments about Snellville PD. My son recently graduated from college and has always wanted to be a police officer. He had the abilties to choose many areas of study but chose criminal justice. Now he is a rookie for the Snellville PD. He is a young man of very high integrity and a desire to do his best. Snellville PD is attracting high caliber officers because of the positive buzz. I hope others won’t be so quick to criticize. Police work is tough and you’ll never please everyone.
By Noah Lynch
April 26, 2008 10:27 AM | Link to this
Georgians, My father is Mr. Keith Lynch, and he’s walking from Chi-Town to Atlanta to confront the injustice that has happened to our family.
My. father has become a victim of the unjust system, which has cost him the lost of his entire family. He has made a decision to give fathers voices that have suffered an unjust lost of children and family through the judicial system.
God’s calling has set my father to walk from Chicago, IL to Atlanta, GA to bring attention concerning the misconduct, and miscarriage of justice that has not only befallen his family at the hands of law enforcement, and judicial officials, but to thousands of others throughout this nation.
My father began his walk for Justice on a cold rainy morning on March 31, 2008 at LaSalle and Van Bruen St in, Chicago, IL. There are five stages in his walk for justice. The cities that he completed are marked in red. He has walked over 318.00 miles thus far, and visited cities such as Gary, Michigan City, South Bend, Elkhart, Goshen, Merriam, and Fort Wayne, Indiana. He began his second stage journey south on April 21, bye crossing into the State of Ohio, with stops in Van Wert, Lima, Sidney, Dayton, Middletown, and Cincinnati, Ohio. My father has completed the second stage, and will rest in the city of Cincinnati, Ohio before continuing the third stage, which includes crossing into the State of Kentucky, with stops in cities such as Crittenden, Owenton, Frankfort, Louisville, Elizabethtown, Munfordville, and Bowling Green, Kentucky. Review his story @ wwwkllundypublishingllc.com
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