Maj. Brian Batterton visits with Rosan Hall at the East Cobb Business Association breakfast Tuesday. (East Cobb News photo by Wendy Parker)
Maj. Brian Batterton, who began his career with the Cobb County Police Department in Precinct 4, is returning to become commander of the East Cobb-based unit.
Batterton, who succeeds Maj. Jerry Quan, is currently the commander of Cobb Police Precinct 5, which is in West Cobb.
His new appointment is another homecoming for Batterton, who still resides in East Cobb, in the Sprayberry High School area.
Batterton has been with Cobb Police since 1995, serving as a patrol officer, a criminal investigations supervisor and as a training center commander.
He made one of his first public appearances Tuesday at an East Cobb Business Association breakfast at the J. Christopher’s at East Lake Pavilions. Batterton will start his new duties Feb. 11.
In the interim, assistant commander Capt. Everett Cebula will be in charge of Precinct 4, which has around 70 officers and staff.
Batterton earned a bachelor’s degree from Georgia State University and a juris doctor degree from John Marshall Law School. He also has served in the National Guard in Georgia and Alabama.
Quan retired on Friday after nearly 30 years with Cobb Police, and began work on Monday with the Cobb County School District Police Department.
In 2014, Quan was named East Cobb Citizen of the Year by the East Cobb Area Council of the Cobb Chamber of Commerce.
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Last week we noted that Cobb Police were having a “coffee with a cop” session as part of its community policing efforts. On Wednesday, they’re inviting you to join them again to express your concerns about crime and public safety issues in East Cobb.
From 8-10 a.m., Officer Nathalie Jegg will be available at the Chick-fil-A at Woodlawn Square, 1201 Johnson Ferry Road. She’s the Cobb Police Precinct 4 community officer (all five precincts have such an officer).
Here’s how Cobb Police is explaining this initiative, which is an ongoing function of its new community affairs unit:
“Community policing and trust building is one of the most important aspects of community-based policing. We, as police, need to create the situations where those things can occur, but it is often difficult and we don’t always reach our intended audience with town hall meetings alone. Coffee with a Cop is the perfect answer to the question of how to better engage our community and show our officers in a true and human light. The Cobb County Police Department welcomes you to pull up a chair and talk.”
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Cobb Police say a man robbed a Powers Ferry Road fast food restaurant Sunday night, right before closing time.
The suspect is a black male, and Cobb Police said he entered the Jimmy Johns sandwich shop at 1337 Powers Ferry Road around 9:30 p.m., demanding money from a clerk.
That restaurant is located across from Brumby Elementary School, and between Delk Road and Terrell Mill Road.
The suspect left the store with cash, according to police, who don’t have any more of a description other than he had a black pistol.
Anyone with information about the robbery is asked to call Cobb Police at 770-499-3945.
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Northeast Cobb Commissioner JoAnn Birrell voted for a resolution requesting the Georgia General Assembly authorize a November referendum for a Cobb public safety sales tax (East Cobb News file photo).
By a 3-2 vote Tuesday night, a Cobb public safety tax referendum proposal was approved by the Board of Commissioners.
That means their resolution will be submitted to the Georgia legislature, which must authorize a local referendum to take place. Cobb wants the referendum scheduled for November.
The referendum proposal would collect a permanent penny sales tax for public safety costs that county officials say would generate $130 million a year.
Cobb’s six cities would get $34 million of that revenue, and the county would get the remaining $96 million, which would fund all public safety functions except the Cobb Sheriff’s Office.
The sales tax revenue would be used for general operating expenses, including salaries and benefits, as well as capital costs, such as new vehicles and equipment.
The tax would be collected only if Cobb voters approved a referendum.
Cobb currently collects six cents on every dollar in sales taxes.
Voting against the resolution was District 2 commissioner Bob Ott of East Cobb, who wanted the resolution to clarify what would happen with the left-over money in the general fund no longer being used for public safety purposes.
“There’s no discussion here of what happens to the millage in the general fund,” Ott said at a work session on Monday. “This is a tax increase otherwise.”
North Cobb commissioner Bob Weatherford, who is proposing the sales tax, said the board has the flexibility to roll back the property tax millage rate if it chooses.
That wasn’t enough of an assurance for Ott, who supports taking public safety spending out of the general fund but who reiterated his objections right before the vote.
District 3 commissioner JoAnn Birrell of Northeast Cobb supported the resolution, citing the high priority of public safety. “We have to put our money where our mouth is.”
The resolution was opposed by Lance Lamberton of the Cobb Taxpayers Association, who claimed the county doesn’t have a revenue problem but “a spending problem.”
Another sales tax, he said, “will amount to a very large tax increase on our citizens.”
Also sounding off on the vote Tuesday was Tom Cheek, a civic activist who has announced he’s running against Birrell in the Republican primary for District 3 this year.
Cheek wrote on his Facebook page that “by using the false flag of ‘Public Safety’ and the false promise of ‘we will lower your property taxes,’ the BOC took a huge step away from accountability.”
The other opposing vote on the board was Lisa Cupid of South Cobb, who referenced the county’s current budget challenges, with a projected fiscal year 2019 deficit between $30 million and $55 million.
“It’s hard to get our arms around a big gaping hole that’s affecting how everything functions in the county now,” she said.
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A new community affairs initiative by Cobb Police, “Coffee With A Cop,” takes place from 5-7 today at the Panera Bread location at The Avenue East Cobb, 4475 Lower Roswell Road.
Officer Nathalie Jegg, the community affairs officer for Precinct 4 in East Cobb, will meet with citizens to discuss public safety issues of concern to them.
It’s part of a community policing program begun by Cobb Police Chief Mike Register, who created the position of community officers in all five precincts.
Here’s how Sgt. Jeff Tatroe, the Cobb Police community affairs unit leader, describes the concept:
Coffee with your Cop brings police officers and the community members they serve together–over coffee–to discuss issues and learn more about each other. In the time it takes to drink a cup of coffee, citizens and police officers can get to know each other and discover mutual goals for the communities they live in and serve. Officer Nathalie Jegg (Pct. 4 Community Affairs Officer) and other Cobb Police officers will be present to engage in discussion. The event will allow you to discuss matters that are most important to you and your neighborhood(s).
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The Circle K location at 1760 Bells Ferry Road. (Marietta Police photo)
Three men have been arrested by Marietta Police after two Bells Ferry Road robberies and a shooting and stabbing incident during an apparent drug deal last week.
Police said Thursday that Anthony Dishawn McCuen, 19, and Antonio Williams, 43, have been charged with with aggravated assault with intent to murder.
Demarquez Simmons, 19, and McCuen have also been charged with two counts of armed robbery each for alleged incidents on Jan. 10 at a Circle K convenience store at 1760 Bells Ferry Road.
Marietta Police allege that Simmons and McCuen are members of the Gangster Disciples gang, and they have also been charged with violating the Criminal Street Gang Act.
According to Cobb Sheriff’s Office records, McCuen and Simmons reside in Northeast Cobb, on Fairington Drive and Bristol Lane, respectively. Both in custody at the Cobb County Adult Detention Center. Williams is from Marietta, police said.
Police said they received reports of gunfire around 8:30 p.m. last Wednesday, Jan. 10, near Bells Ferry Road and Williams Drive, which is near the Circle K. Investigators said a dispute broke out near the Circle K parking lot about a narcotics purchase in which Williams allegedly stabbed McCuen.
According to police, McCuen ran after Williams and shot him several times. Police said Williams is recovering but did not detail his injuries.
Simmons was also involved in the dispute, according to police, who said he initially provided a false identification.
Police said two hand guns were located near the original crime scene, which prompted them to expand their investigation. According to police, McCuen and Simmons also had committed two armed robberies at the same Circle K earlier that day, in the morning.
The investigation also led to stolen items in Simmons’ possession, according to police, who said they are connected to a vehicle break-in on the previous day, Tuesday, Jan. 9.
McCuen also faces charges of firing a weapon near a street, possession of a firearm while committing a crime and theft by receiving.
Simmons is also charged with giving a false name and date of birth, possession of marijuana with intent to distribute, obstruction of an investigation, two counts of possessing a firearm during the commission of a crime and is wanted for a probation violation.
Marietta Police are continuing the investigation. Anyone with information is asked to contact Det. Braxton at 770-794-5380.
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A Nigerian immigrant whom Marietta Police say threatened to shoot up a Northeast Cobb church and kill people inside has been charged with making terroristic threats.
Police said Ken Ogbemudia, a member of the Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG) Heaven’s Gate on Pickens Industrial Drive, located off Allgood Road, has been admitted to WellStar Kennestone Hospital for psychiatric evaluation.
Once he is released, police said he will be held without bond. Marietta Police issued a statement Friday morning saying that Temitosan Abimbola, the pastor of the church, told authorities about Ogbemudia’s threats.
Police said Ogbemudia allegedly texted a threatening message to church members. According to police, the pastor also spoke with a woman identified as Karen James, whom he said told him that she had purchased two AK-47 rifles and 600 rounds of ammunition.
Ogbemudia was taken into custody on Thursday, according to police, who said they have located no weapons and added that James is cooperating with the investigation.
Officials from the U.S. Department of Immigration and Customs Enforcement are checking into Ogbemudia’s immigration status.
Police said he arrived in the United States from Nigeria in 2011 and has told authorities he is in the country illegally.
The church is part of the Redeemed Christian Church of God, a Pentecostal denomination based in Lagos, Nigeria, and that has branches in nearly 200 nations.
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The suspect wanted for the recent robbery of a SunTrust bank at Powers Ferry and Terrell Mill roads has been identified via surveillance camera.
Cobb Police have released photographs of the man they believe held up the SunTrust branch at 1380 Powers Ferry Road on Dec. 20 (previous East Cobb Newspost here) as he approached a teller demanding cash.
The suspect left with the money but there has not been a description of the vehicle.
Police describe the suspect as a black male, 20-25 years old, 175-180 pounds, and was last seen wearing a black baseball hat, camouflaged hoodie, black jacket and blue jeans. Police also have said the same suspect may have robbed a South Cobb motel earlier this month.
Anyone with information about the robbery is asked to call Cobb Police at 770-499-3945 or provide an anonymous tip at Greater Atlanta Crime Stoppers at 404-577-TIPS (8477).
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Cobb Police are searching for a man whom they say robbed a SunTrust Bank Wednesday at Terrell Mill Road and Powers Ferry Road.
The incident happened around 11:20 a.m. Wednesday at the SunTrust branch at 1380 Powers Ferry Road, located near the Terrell Mill Village Shopping Center.
Police say a black male entered the bank and handed a teller a note demanding cash, which he received, and that he left on foot.
There was no vehicle description, but Cobb Police further identified the suspect as being between 20-25 years old and weighing 175-180 pounds. Police said he last seen wearing a black baseball hat, a camouflaged hoodie a black jacket and blue jeans.
Police are asking anyone with information to call 770-499-3945.
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Surveillance photos of the robbery suspect at the Regions Bank, 2486 Roswell Road, on Dec. 7.
Following up the story about a bank robbery we posted last week during the midst of winter storm: The suspect in that incident at the Regions Bank on Roswell Road is wanted by the FBI for other robberies in metro Atlanta.
On Tuesday, the Atlanta field office of the FBI issued an alert asking for the public’s help in capturing the suspect whom they believe is responsible for five bank robberies since September. The FBI refers to him as the “Zombie Hat Bandit” due to the details of the hat he has worn during the robberies.
The inscription reads “Walking Dead-Beware I Bite” and the FBI believes the man who robbed the East Cobb bank is the same person shown below in a surveillance photo from another incident.
Last Thursday’s robbery in East Cobb is believed to be the last of those robberies, according to the FBI, which released information about the other robberies it is investigating:
Sept. 6, at 12:39 p.m., Regions Bank, 2419 Cheshire Bridge Road, Atlanta. Suspect left in in a black Toyota Corolla (2014 to 2016);
Sept. 22, 2:23 p.m., Regions Bank, 6637 Roswell Road, Sandy Springs. Wearing same outfit as in Sept. 6 robbery;
Oct. 16, Regions Bank, 6503 North Point Parkway, Alpharetta, Georgia. Same clothing as in September robberies;
Dec. 5, 11:45 a.m., Bank of America, 8755 Roswell Road, Sandy Springs.
The East Cobb Regions Bank branch robbed last week also was robbed during a serial robbery spree in 2016 that resulted in a 25-year prison sentence for a Marietta man.
The FBI further describes the suspect in this fall’s robberies as a black male, mid-to-late 30s with a medium build. He has some facial hair and wears a large black wrist watch and shirts that have the “Punisher” logo. He also has been described as occasionally carrying a small zippered bag.
The FBI asks anyone with information to call Crime Stoppers Atlanta at 404-577-8477, which offers a reward, and callers can remain anonymous.
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Cobb Police released surveillance photos of the robbery suspect at the Regions Bank, 2486 Roswell Road.
Cobb Police are looking for a suspect in an East Cobb bank robbery Thursday afternoon.
They released surveillance camera photos of a man whom they say approached a teller at the Regions Bank, 2486 Roswell Road, around 1:30 p.m. Thursday, and issued a note demanding money.
The suspect received undisclosed cash and left on foot, according to police. They described the suspect as a black male, 5-foot-5 or 5-foot-6, between 25-30 years of age, and with a thin build.
He is bald with a goatee and was wearing a “Punisher” t-shirt with dark pants and dark shoes and a black ball cap with the words “Beware I Bite” on the front, according to the police description.
Police are asking anyone with information to call 770-499-3945.
Anonymous tippers can receive a reward of up to $2,000 by contacting the Greater Atlanta Crime Stoppersorganization at 404-577-TIPS (8477).
Tipsters can also text tip information to Crime Stoppers by typing “CRIMES” (274637).
The Regions Bank branch robbed Thursday was also hit by a serial bank robber who was tried and convicted for robbing several East Cobb and metro Atlanta banks in 2016. A 52-year-old Marietta man, Kevin Ray Williamson, was sentenced to 25 years in prison in June.
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An 81-year-old Marietta woman died Thursday when she was struck by a minivan on Lower Roswell Road.
Cobb Police said Qinxian Fu was pronounced dead after being taken to WellStar Kennestone Hospital after the accident.
According to police, the victim was a pedestrian who stepped off the north side of Lower Roswell Road between Pioneer Trail and the entrance to Sewell Park Drive, and into the road, and was hit by the minivan.
The area of the accident was also near Faith Lutheran Church.
The vehicle, a gray 2007 Honda Odyssey, was driven by Vevodova Ladislava, 41, of Acworth, who was traveling westbound on Lower Roswell when she struck Fu with her right fender, police said.
The motorist was not injured, according to police, who are still investigating the case. Anyone with information is asked to call 770-499-3987.
An 82-year-old Northeast Cobb man who went missing Tuesday has been returned to his family after the Cobb Sheriff’s Office issued a Mattie’s call.
The sheriff’s office said in a social media posting Wednesday morning that Billy “Jack” Givens, who has a history of dementia, “is safe with his family!”
Givens was last seen at his home on Ruby Street, located off Canton Road near Sandy Plains Road, around 2 p.m. Tuesday and was driving a black 1998 Cadillac El Dorado from his residence when he disappeared.
Mattie’s calls are made by local law enforcement agencies to locate elderly or disabled missing persons.
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For the first time, the Cobb County Police Department is conducting an annual coat drive, and East Cobb’s Precinct 4 is one the places you can drop off old coats for distribution.
The drive is called “Giving the Gift of Warmth,” and it’s part of the expanded outreach efforts of the Cobb PD’s community affairs department (previous East Cobb Newspost here of new chief Mike Register’s recent talk on that and other subjects before the East Cobb Civic Association).
Precinct 4, located in the East Cobb Government Service Center at 4400 Lower Roswell Road, will be accepting items through Dec. 1. Cobb PD says the best times to drop off items are from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Friday, except for county holidays. Here’s more from Cobb PD about what they’re looking for and what they’re going to do with what they collect:
“The donation of your gently used coats and other winter wear (scarves, hats, and gloves) to kids and families in need is appreciated by all. Your donated items will be shared with numerous organizations throughout Cobb County.”
The other precinct locations are as follows, and the same Dec. 1 cutoff date applies:
Pct. 1—2380 Cobb Parkway, Kennesaw;
Pct. 2— 4700 Austell Road, Austell;
Pct. 3—1901 Cumberland Parkway, Atlanta;
Pct. 5—4640 Dallas Highway, Powder Springs;
H.Q.—140 North Marietta Parkway, Marietta.
If you want to donate but can’t go to a dropoff point, contact Sgt. Jeff Tatroe, the Cobb PD Community Affairs Unit supervisor at 770-499-3981 or email jeff.tatroe@cobbcounty.org to have your items picked up.
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Marietta Police say two men were taken to Kennestone Hospital Wednesday following a Delk Road motel shooting.
The men, whose names were not released, appear to have non-life-threatening injuries after shooting one another at the Rodeway Inn & Suites, 2375 Delk Road, according to police.
Police said the men were inside one of the rooms of the motel when the shooting began.
The Rodeway Inn is located near Delk and the Interstate 75 interchange in an area with similar motels, restaurants and convenience businesses.
Police said they are continuing to interview witnesses as their investigation continues.
More than 70 officers and staff from the Cobb Police Department’s Precinct 4 turned out Thursday night for the 5th annual East Cobb Public Safety Appreciation Dinner at the Olde Towne Athletic Club.
The event, sponsored by the East Cobb Business Association, featured a Western and casino theme, with line dancing and music, and tables with poker, blackjack, Texas Hold ‘Em and more.
Officers and staff received awards and gifts, including dinners and raffle prizes, and were invited to bring their spouses or significant others for a relaxing night away from the demands of their work.
While they were enjoying the evening, members of the Cobb Police Department’s Community Traffic Services Unit were holding down the Precinct 4 fort on Lower Roswell Road, and were served dinner courtesy of Sam’s BBQ-1 in East Cobb.
Maj. Jerry Quan, the Precinct 4 commander, said the appreciation dinner is eagerly anticipated by his officers. He also said the gesture by the ECBA and other groups and individuals who put on the dinner helps bolster strong community bonds with local police.
The ECBA is also organizing a similar dinner for all Cobb Fire and Emergency Services personnel next spring. For information, contact Susan Hampton: susan.hampton@lionbank.com or Kim Paris: kim.paris@wellstar.org.
Precinct 4 Commander Maj. Jerry Quan, left and field training officer Robbie New enjoying a meal and conversation.Det. Paul Barnhill (center, with glasses), getting his East Cobb Officer of the Year award from Cobb Police Chief Mike Register.Field training officer Tommy Burns, the East Cobb morning watch officer of the year, getting his sketch done.
In the wake of the Las Vegas shootings, the Cobb Police Department has announced it will be holding active shooter training classes for the public this month, in each of its five precincts.
The training session for East Cobb’s Precinct 4 is Oct. 24 at 7 p.m. at Chestnut Ridge Christian Church, 2663 Johnson Ferry Road. The event is free and is open to the public.
Various Cobb public safety organizations held an event on Monday, and that was organized by Marietta first responders and Marietta City Schools, to remember the Las Vegas shooting victims and to instruct citizens how to respond to a mass shooting.
If you can’t attend the Precinct 4 event, the other sessions being held around the county are as follows:
Precinct 1
Thursday, October 26th at Precinct 1, 7:00 PM, please RSVP for Precinct 1’s Active Shooting Response Training, contact 770-499-4181 or 770-499-3967
Cobb County Police Precinct 1
2380 Cobb PKWY
Kennesaw, GA 30152
Precinct 2
Tuesday, October 24th at South Cobb High School Theater, 7:00 PM
South Cobb High School Theater
1920 Clay Rd SW
Austell, GA 30106
Precinct 3
Monday, October 23rd at Precinct 3, 7:00 PM
Cobb County Police Precinct 3
1901 Cumberland PKWY SE
Atlanta, GA 30339
Precinct 5
Wednesday, October 25th, at Harrison High School, 7:00 PM
Harrison High School
4500 Due West Rd NW
Kennesaw, GA 30152
A Roswell Road graffiti suspect wanted for damaging several East Marietta businesses has been charged with 15 felonies by Marietta Police. (Photos courtesy Marietta Police)
A Roswell Road graffiti suspect police say vandalized several East Marietta businesses and public properties has been charged with 15 felonies.
According to Cobb Sheriff’s Office records, William Carswell, age 17 or 18, of Fawn Place in East Cobb, was arrested and booked into at the Cobb County Adult Detention Center on Oct. 5. He was released Oct. 8 on a $15,000 bond.
Of the felony charges against Carswell, 14 are for interference with government property and another for second degree criminal property damage, as well as a single misdemeanor count of criminal trespass.
Marietta Police allege the suspect carved the window of the Beats Barber Shop at 1476 Roswell Road on Sept. 19 with the lettering “WUSHU” and later spray-painted an ice machine the same way at a business at 1462 Roswell Road, in the East Marietta Shopping Center.
Police said as their investigation continued, and they strung together video evidence, “footage from several locations showed a young male tagging several locations in the Cobb County area.”
Those locations included bridges in the area, according to police.
Police said Carswell has a previous arrest history with similar charges of interference with government property, criminal trespass and criminal property damage.
Marietta Police said it has contacted other nearby law enforcement agencies about possible vandalism incidents that may be connected to Carswell as it continues its investigation.
“Graffiti may not seem to rank up there with violent crime, yet in terms of Community Policing, graffiti is exactly the kind of environmental crime that causes neighborhoods and business areas to deteriorate,” Marietta Police said in a statement. “If the police can reverse the environmental conditions that cause more serious social conditions and crime, we can prevent crime and promote public safety.”
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Marietta Police said Tuesday they apprehended a suspect wanted for a shoplifting incident in Cherokee County and who dragged a police officer there outside a retail store.
Amy Ridge, of Marietta, was arrested Wednesday afternoon near Barnes Mill Road and Merritt Road, according to Marietta Police.
Woodstock Police said Ridge has been charged with aggravated assault on an officer, shoplifting, fleeing and attempting to elude and other charges, and is in the Cherokee County Adult Detention Center.
Police said they received a call Wednesday afternoon of a shoplifting at a Kohl’s store in Woodstock. According to police, the suspect was in her car when an officer approached. He was hit by a car door as she fled and was treated on the scene for minor injuries, according to police.
Josh Taylor of Cobb EMS and Steve Hammond of the Cobb Police Department. Photo submitted by Cobb Chamber of Commerce.
Several Cobb public safety personnel were recognized Monday by the Cobb Chamber of Commerce at its annual Public Safety Appreciation breakfast.
Public safety staffers from Cobb EMS, sheriff’s and police, in addition to those from various city public safety agencies, were honored.
Two winners of the chamber’s Award of Merit are Josh Taylor of the Cobb Emergency and Medical Services Department and Steve Hammond of the Cobb Police Department. This award goes to recipients who, through their “acts of courage, demonstrat[e] genuine care and concern for the citizens of the community and go above and beyond the call of duty, often resulting in a life being saved. Taylor and Hammond formed a Tactical First Aid Department in 2012 to improve medical care for wounded individuals at crime and accident scenes. Here’s the Chamber’s description of how this program has evolved:
“The Tactical First Aid Program provided the department with the training and equipment needed to treat extremity wounds, penetrating chest trauma and airway obstructions. In 2013, Capt. Taylor began conducting training sessions to prepare the department for usage. Today, the program is fully operational and all Cobb County Police Officers receive this lifesaving training, are receiving CPR and basic medical training and are using these radical practices to save lives daily.
“Since the program’s inception, there has been a 74 percent survival rate when officers utilize the training and equipment provided by Capt. Taylor and Det. Hammond. Today, 23 citizens are alive because of the foresight, dedication and teamwork of Capt. Taylor and Det. Hammond to develop such a lifesaving, essential program.”
Mark Blesener of Cobb EMS was given the Medal of Valor, which goes to an individual for an act of bravery in a life-threatening situation. Here’s the story behind that:
Mark Blesener, Cobb EMS. Photo submitted by Cobb Chamber of Commerce.
“For the past 10 years of his life, firefighter Mark Blesener has committed himself to serving the Cobb community and keeping it safe. All 10 of those years have been served with the Cobb County Fire and Emergency Services. Blesener is known for his professionalism and fearlessness. On September 18, 2016 Blesener responded to an emergency response call of a hypothermic woman on the Chattooga River in Rabun County. When Blesener, along with others from the unit, arrived at the scene by helicopter, he was lowered to the rock where the affected woman was, assisted her into the rescue basket and quickly wrapped her in warm layers. Once safely in the helicopter, the woman was given medical attention.
“Blesener is commended for his bravery and bold response to this dangerous and daring rescue. Because of his quick thinking and fearlessness, that woman’s life was saved that day and she has made a full recovery.”
As part of Public Safety Appreciation Month in Cobb County, the East Cobb Business Association is holding a dinner for Cobb Police Precinct 4 staff this month. Fundraising is continuing, and if you’re interested in helping out, here’s a previous East Cobb Newspost explaining their efforts.