The city honored two former Atlanta police officers for their extensive homicide detective experience and for raising awareness to issues officers and victims face when solving violent crime cases.
Former Atlanta police homicide detectives David Quinn and Vince Velazquez received proclamations during Monday’s City Council meeting. The two now star in the TVOne show “ATL Homicide,” a true crime series that follows their personal experiences solving cases.
“They continue to give back to our community from not only illuminating the cases and issues of crime in our community but also giving the public a realistic look at what it’s like to be a police officer,” said Councilman Michael Julian Bond, who presented the proclamations.
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The duo thanked the city for the honor and homicide victims’ families for their dedication to bringing justice to their loved one.
For Velazquez, the most rewarding part of the show’s success has been the messages from strangers saying the show shaped their view of law enforcement. Velazquez also said he’s spoken to officers who want to improve their interactions with victims after watching the show.
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“We have changed their opinion on how they act,” he said at the meeting. “One officer said he had a bad attitude, but from watching us and how we present our cases and talk to families, he wants to try and change.”
Velazquez joined Atlanta police in 1995. He retired in 2017 after 22 years of services. He began a consulting company and has worked on crime shows such as “48 Hours” and “Dateline NBC.”
Quinn began his career with Atlanta police in 1985. He retired from the department in 2015 after 30 years of services.
Quinn encouraged residents to keep fighting for justice for their loved ones: “Hold their feet to the fire of those investigating those crimes. Everyone has a say to how their case gets investigated.”
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