News and Notes
Virginia-Highland Civic Association Survey
The Virginia-Highland Civic Association Board, elected in September, is looking for input from association members as we make plans for 2017. Please follow the link below to complete a brief survey so that we can learn how to serve you better.
All responses will remain anonymous, and the survey will remain open through Sunday, December 11th. Note that we are only seeking responses from residents of Virginia-Highland who are 18 years of age or older at this time. If you have questions, please contact kay.stpehenson@gmail.com.
A New Chief for APD
On Wednesday November 30th, Chief George N. Turner announced his intent to resign effective at the end of the year. Today Mayor Reed announced that Deputy Chief Erika Shields will be his replacement. During his tenure, Chief Turner made substantial changes and improvements within the department leading to improved morale, reduced crime, and recognition at the national level.
Read more about Chief Turner in Maria Saporta’s report here http://saportareport.com/
Here is the AJC story about the announcement of Shields http://www.ajc.com/news/local-
Video Camera Update
Judge Sterling Eaves has recently joined our Virginia-Highland Safety team and is taking the lead role on our program to install video cameras around the neighborhood. We currently have three operational cameras located at the intersection of Virginia and N. Highland, Maiden Lane between Ponce Place and Bonaventure, and Ponce de Leon Ave at Ponce de Leon Place.
Three additional cameras have been funded by VHCA with matching funds from City Council representative Alex Wan. These have been installed at Frederica and Ponce de Leon, Ponce de Leon between Bonaventure and Somerset, and Ponce Place between St. Charles and Greenwood. As soon as Georgia Power connects the power to these cameras they will be online.
Three additional cameras are planned via an Invest Atlanta program that will locate twenty cameras throughout Zone 6. Our cameras are tentatively targeted for the intersections of N. Highland and Ponce de Leon, N. Highland and St. Charles and on Amsterdam near the entrance to Amsterdam Walk.
With these last three, we will have a total of nine cameras in Virginia-Highland. When we first spoke with Major Peek approximately a year ago, Atlanta Police Department identified fifteen locations where cameras were most needed. Judge Eaves will be working on a plan to raise funds for the remaining six cameras on that list during 2017. Stay tuned for how you can help.
A Holiday Safety Message from Major Peek
Good evening Zone Six Residents!
I hope and pray that everyone had a great Thanksgiving Holiday. We are truly thankful for the opportunity to serve our citizens with commitment, courage, integrity and professionalism. Thus far, we have experienced another year of overall crime reductions. Currently, we are at an 8% decrease but we do recognize that we have experienced a recent increase in car break-ins over the last couple of weeks. To address the issue, we have increased patrols throughout the affected areas. We have also launched our 2016 APD Holiday Plan which includes moving our administrative officers into the field so that everyone has a part in patrolling and keeping our streets safe.
As we enter into this holiday season at full stride, it is important for you to know what is happening in our community and how we can work together to help make our communities safer for us all. Our goal is to ensure that we have a safe holiday season. So, of course we are asking for each and every citizen to participate by partnering with us. We ask that you always keep your eyes and ears open for suspicious activity and call 911 immediately if you notice what is believed to be criminal activity. Do not engage with criminals! Please call police and allow the officers to engage the suspected persons.
Please see the following tips:
- When shopping online, if you’re not generally home to receive your packages, please consider having them shipped to a location where someone will be able to receive your packages. Perhaps your work office or a friend/neighbor that may be home. We usually see an increase of thefts where packages are taken from porches after being delivered.
- When shopping at the malls, please keep your cars clear of any bags or packages. Place packages inside your trunks and if you need to go back into the mall for more shopping, it is a good idea to take enter your vehicle and exit the location and reenter the parking lot and park somewhere else. Criminals will often see victims placing items in their vehicles and when they go back into the mall, they know that they can break into your cars and take the items.
- When pumping gas, lock your cars have your keys in your pockets. Do not leave your cars with purses and other items on your seats in plain view. Criminals are opening car doors and taking purses while ladies are not paying attention and watching the gas pumps. Always be aware of your surroundings.
- For our bar and club people, please guard your drinks so that no one can place any intoxicants in your drinks. Also, please do not assume that the person that you have been communicating with through social media only is safe. If possible, take a companion with you and gather as much information as you can on the person. Make the first 2 or 3 dates into double dates. Social media is convenient for good people as well as those who prey on good and innocent people.
- Do not take strangers home with you. If intoxicated, do not accept rides from people that you have just met. They are considered as strangers until you really get to know them over time.
I know that these steps seem to be obvious but we are sharing the tips because we are seeing similar incidents too frequently. Because of the diversity of our community, we can’t assume that everyone is aware of the trends. In closing, we want everyone to have a wonderful closeout to 2016. By doing so will put you in place to have a great start to 2017.
“The mission of the Atlanta Police Department is to create a safer Atlanta by reducing crime, ensuring the safety of our citizens and building trust in partnership with our community.”
Sincerely,
Major T. D. Peek, Commander Zone Six Precinct
Atlanta Police Department, 2025 Hosea Williams Drive
Office - 404-371-5002
City Cellular - 404-831-0824
Sincerely,
Major T. D. Peek, Commander Zone Six Precinct
Atlanta Police Department, 2025 Hosea Williams Drive
Office - 404-371-5002
City Cellular - 404-831-0824
Fund a Fighter – PAL Guns N’ Hoses – A Knockout Event
Want to help out in a major way with our upcoming fundraiser this Thursday? Here's how you can help! The Guns N' Hoses event is the only fundraiser of the year for the Atlanta Police Athletic League.
The charity event helps PAL provide programs and services that promote self-responsibility, academic achievement, and various social skills to the intercity youth of Atlanta. One hundred percent of the proceeds raised through Guns N’ Hoses go directly to support PAL youth.
The Guns N’ Hoses Amateur Boxing Championship attracts Law Enforcement Officers, Firefighters, EMT’s and other First Responders from all over the Southeast who volunteer their time and talents to ensure our success. Those who help us out typically do so at their own expense. Atlanta PAL is currently seeking donations to help up to 20 volunteer boxers defray the costs associated with training, certification, and participation.
Your contribution will help pay for their USA Boxing registration fees, equipment (shoes, tape, mouth guards, gloves, cup, and head gear), ring and trainers, lodging (for out-of-town participants) on the night of the event.
The charity event helps PAL provide programs and services that promote self-responsibility, academic achievement, and various social skills to the intercity youth of Atlanta. One hundred percent of the proceeds raised through Guns N’ Hoses go directly to support PAL youth.
The Guns N’ Hoses Amateur Boxing Championship attracts Law Enforcement Officers, Firefighters, EMT’s and other First Responders from all over the Southeast who volunteer their time and talents to ensure our success. Those who help us out typically do so at their own expense. Atlanta PAL is currently seeking donations to help up to 20 volunteer boxers defray the costs associated with training, certification, and participation.
Your contribution will help pay for their USA Boxing registration fees, equipment (shoes, tape, mouth guards, gloves, cup, and head gear), ring and trainers, lodging (for out-of-town participants) on the night of the event.
The Atlanta Police Athletic League is a 501(c)(3) non-profit charitable organization, meaning your generous donation is tax deductible. For more information, visit https://www.gofundme.
Zone 6 Toy Drive
Please remember that Zone 6 is collecting toys to help children throughout the zone have a happy holiday. New unwrapped toys are needed for children infant to 14 years old. Donations are being accepted now through December 14th, 2016.
You can drop off toys at the precinct or on John Wolfinger’s porch 1054 Vance Avenue. He will deliver toys to the precinct periodically as he accumulates a full car load.
If anyone is feeling especially generous, it would be great to provide a bicycle and helmet to older children. Last year Virginia-Highland donated four bikes – two for girls and two for boys.
Crime Statistics
The following information is taken from our APD Zone 6 report (http://atlantapd.org/Zone6.
It includes information from the Virginia-Highland Beat 601 reported incidents along with relevant reports from other nearby beats. Keep in mind that not all incidents are reported. A map showing the location of beats 601 – 612 within Zone 6 can be found at this link
http://boundaries.atlantapd.
Homicide None in Beat 601 and one in Zone 6.
Rape None in Beat 601 and none in Zone 6.
Pedestrian/Carjacking Robbery None in Beat 601 and five in Zone 6.
Residential Robbery None in Beat 601 and none in Zone 6.
Commercial Robbery None in Beat 601 and one in Zone 6.
Aggravated Assault None in Beat 601 and five in Zone 6.
Residential Burglary None in Beat 601 and twelve in Zone 6.
Commercial Burglary None in Beat 601 and none in Zone 6.
Larceny From Vehicle Three in Beat 601 and Forty-one in Zone 6.
Vehicles were entered on Bonaventure, N. Highland, and St. Louis Place. Entry was made through broken windows and an unlocked door. Items taken included golf clubs, clothing, two laptops and a book bag.
Other Larcenies Three in Beat 601 and eighteen in Zone 6.
On Halloween, a resident was using his iPhone to play music over speakers outside his home. After a group of trick-or-treaters left he realized the music had stopped and discovered the phone was gone.
On November 2nd, someone stole the parking lot cash box from 1056 N. Highland Ave.
On November 5th, someone shoplifted two bracelets from Halfmoon Outfitters on N. Highland Ave.
Auto Theft None in Beat 601 and seven in Zone 6.
If this report was forwarded to you and you would like to be added to the distribution, please send a message to me at VaHiSafety@gmail.com with your name, email address, and affiliation. Thanks.
Stay Safe!
Kay Stephenson
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