APD email urges neighborhood awareness, spotlighting visitors
March 18, 2009 at 2:30 pm by Thomas Wheatley in NewsA recent email to residents from an Atlanta Police Department zone commander underscores the difficulties the department and Atlantans face when it comes to crime — but it also stresses the need to remain aware and vigilant.
In a Tuesday morning email to neighborhood groups, Major Khirus Williams says Monday night saw a rise in robberies and carjackings. Williams says that recent furloughs have reduced the number of street patrols and that criminals are “becoming more brazen.” In the email, he offers tips residents can use to stay safe and reduce the likelihood of crime.
Needless to say, some of them are pretty depressing. But “more with less” and all that.
Please read this e-mail and alert our citizens that we had robberies and multiple car jackings throughout the City of Atlanta (metro wide) last night, including your area.
Please, let us all keep our exterior lights on to illuminate the area. This makes the area unpopular for criminals!
Also, please have your family, friends, and neighbors to blow their horn when arriving. This allows us to watch for them until they arrive, inside, safely. Open the window dressings and hi-light them with a flash-light. Thus, the criminal element would be aware that someone is watching!
Furthermore, we have to minimize just visiting in the drive way, or sidewalks, at nights. I know that this is unfair, but the criminals are becoming more brazen and this is their method of attack. Patrols throughout the City are not as common as they were in the past, as a result of furloughs.
In closing, we have to do things differently than we did in the past, until there is a change. Please, let us minimize the opportunity for us to become victims and assist others as they return home.
Yours,
Khirus E. Williams
Major Khirus E. Williams
Zone 5 commander
200 Spring Street
Atlanta, Ga. 30303
404.658.7054“Who is it, today, that you have helped, or hindered and which will it be tomorrow?”
Included in the email was a summary of crimes that took place in Zone 5 that night and morning.
From: Hudson, Fred
To: [redacted]
Sent: Tue Mar 17 07:37:36 2009
Subject:Sgt. F. Hudson
Z-5 Morning Watch
404-658-7500On 03-16-09 at 2256pm, unit 1505 responded to an Armed Robbery at [redacted] Myrtle Street . The victim ([redacted]) stated that approximately five black males approached him and put a gun to his head and demanded his property. The suspects took his blackberry and $27.00 U.S. Currency. On 03-16-09 around 2345pm unit 1508 responded to a Armed Robbery at [redacted] Walker street . The victim ([redacted]) stated that two black males approached him and pulled out a hand gun and demanded the keys to his vehicle. The suspects took his vehicle, I-Pod, and $50.00 U. S. Currency. On 03-17-09 around 0005am, unit 1501 responded to a Armed Robbery at [redacted] Hirsch street . The victim ([redacted]) stated that he was walking down the street when two black males approached him pulled out a hand gun and demanded his property. The suspects took $20.00 U. S. Currency, social security card, and credit card. The description of all the suspects was similar. They all were wearing black hoodies, dark skinned black males, and one of them seems to have short dred locks. There is a possibility that these are the same suspects committing these crimes. A lookout was given on the suspects and the areas were saturated with Police and investigators looking for these suspects. None of the suspects were apprehended, so we will continue our efforts to locate these suspects.
For more information about staying connected with neighbors, visit Atlantans Together Against Crime, a grassroots community group, or contact your Neighborhood Planning Unit.
March 18th, 2009 at 11:59 pm
Warmer weather + Fewer Police and Police Patrols = Crime Wave 2009: A City Under Siege…..
…..Take it away John and Monica
March 22nd, 2009 at 2:25 am
I honestly can’t believe I moved to this city. I didn’t like it very much when I moved here last year, and I keep discovering more reasons that it sucks such as high crime.
I like to know about the cities I live in, but the local paper sucks, the NPR station is worthless, I don’t own a tv, and most blogs in this city are about stuffing your face with crappy local food or about raising kids. Creative Loafing seems to be a small bright spot, but now I’ve learned they’re going bankrupt. Great!
I for one am going to take my high-salary skills back to the West coast first chance I get even if my salary is lower and the cost-of-living is higher. Who wants to live in a city of this size with few, if any, public amenities (transit stinks, not enough cops, crappy schools) while the useless mayor and council members collect fat paychecks?
I even have trouble getting gas in this city; the last time I tried, I was harassed by kids trying to surround me and my car and asking for money while exchanging shifty glances. Meanwhile, everyone else there pretended it wasn’t happening, so I just drove off; this has basically happened 3 times now. Now, I avoid stations like the ones at Ponce and Monroe (so I have to go to more expensive ones in more affluent neighborhoods), I have to go in broad daylight, and I go with my spouse. What kind of life is that?
I’ve lived in NYC and LA, but Atlanta creeps me out – I’m always looking over my shoulder while I walk my dogs to the point that I have to drive to a nicer neighborhood to walk them. And sometimes when I try to go shopping, if the parking lot is too full, I just go home since parking on the edge of the lot invites creeps to corner you at your car for money.
The politicians will soon realize that if you make the city unsafe and inhospitable, people with jobs will leave and take their tax dollars elsewhere. If this trend continues, Atlanta will be a top 5 worst city in fewer than 10 years. I’m just glad I won;t be here to witness it.
March 22nd, 2009 at 1:14 pm
See ya bob. You will not be missed.
March 22nd, 2009 at 1:57 pm
Bob – I agree there aren’t enough whiny liberals here in Atlanta. This town has both conservatives (of all races) and gangsta thugs (and their vocal supporters) in abundance, but not much otherwise. Please stay and make this town a better place.
Those of us who have been here a long time are aware of the creepy neighborhoods – that’s why some of us don’t live in them anymore. Why don’t you move out to the suburbs or something? You don’t necessarily have to leave the metro area.
March 23rd, 2009 at 11:22 am
Maybe you guys could talk it over at the Applebees in Alpharetta…. Douchebags.
March 23rd, 2009 at 12:18 pm
I think this Bob guy is scamming, folks. He just want to make you mad. If he is the genuine article, ie, a whiny West Coaster who cannot wait to get back to his roots, well, as Lewis Grizzard used to say:
Delta is ready when you are.
And take your dogs when you go. The town is overrun with them.
March 23rd, 2009 at 1:03 pm
LA and NYC are safer downtown in the areas that normal people live? Marginally, if at all.
People with money buy security anywhere they live by moving to safer areas.
Hey Bob, here’s a hint, put on your big boy pants or move to a nicer part of the city. Should be no problem for someone with “high-salary skills “.
I agree with Edgewood Adam and Grant Parker, don’t let the door hit you in the ass.