This is "Actual Factual DeKalb," a regular column in which I answer reader questions about goings-on and history in DeKalb County.
Reader Dan O. asks: What is the building off I-285 with a helicopter?
Good one, Dan. I’ve noticed this one myself many times. Luckily, I often have business there, so it’s an easy inquiry to tackle.
For the unfamiliar, the structure and chopper in question reside on Memorial Drive, looming over Camp Circle. The DeKalb County jail is next door.
Why a helicopter?: The building Dan's interested in is the Robert T. "Bobby" Burgess Building, and that helicopter belongs to the DeKalb County Police Department.
Plenty of large police departments use helicopters for police work: keeping an eye on traffic on the interstates, searching out fugitives and generally running back up for the cops on the ground.
About the building's namesake: Burgess retired from the police department in 2001 after 45 years, with 22 of those in the chief's seat. That made him the longest serving chief in department history.
He’d followed the family path serving DeKalb.
"Generations of Burgess men were in the DeKalb County government and he was really proud of that — since the late 1800s — and he continued the tradition," said DeKalb police Lt. Tom Reiner, back in 2014 when Burgess died at 83.
About the building: The Burgess building is attached to the Camp Circle Courthouse Complex, which houses code enforcement court, magistrate court and, of course, some police.
— I am a staff writer with the AJC and a proud DeKalb County resident. To submit “Actual Factual DeKalb” questions, contact me at joshua.sharpe@ajc.com, @JoshuaWSharpe on Twitter or via the form below.
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