East Cobb Public Safety

Ribbon-cutting set for ‘JoAnn K. Birrell Police K9 Annex’

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Ribbon-cutting set for 'JoAnn K. Birrell Police K9 Annex'

A couple weeks after a Cobb Police K-9 annex was named for Cobb Commissioner JoAnn Birrell, the new facility will officially open next week.

A ribbon-cutting for the Joann K. Birrell Police K9 annex will be Tuesday at 10 a.m. at 1060 Al Bishop Drive in Marietta.

That’s where the team of nine K-9 teams operates in assisting in criminal investigations, including narcotics, explosives, evidence recovery and search and rescue.

Birrell, a noted dog-lover, was taken by surprise during a recognition at the board’s Jan. 9 meeting, when her colleagues informed her they voted to name the new facility after her.

She was also joined by her husband, David Birrell, and some of the K-9 dogs, who are Belgian Malinois, German Shepherds and a Dutch Shepherd.

As a leader of the Northeast Cobb Business Association, she led fundraising efforts to help Cobb Police purchase service dogs before she was in public office.

As a commissioner, she has earmarked some of her district contingency funding to replace a retiring dog and fund the department’s kennel system.

Birrell also helped create Superior Pets for Patriotic Vets, a partnership with Superior Plumbing and Cobb Animal Services that waives fees for military veterans who adopt shelter dogs and cats.

The Cobb Police K-9 program accepts donations from the public; more information and online payment are available by clicking here.

Ribbon-cutting set for 'JoAnn K. Birrell Police K9 Annex'

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Cobb Police shoot man with a gun in East Cobb neighborhood

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Cobb Police said Wednesday that an officer shot a man with a gun after confronting him on Columns Drive in East Cobb Tuesday evening. Northeast Cobb car crash, Cops on Donut Shops

Officer Joseph Wilson said in a release that police received numerous 911 calls around 10:30 p.m. Tuesday saying that a man was walking down Columns Drive and firing his gun.

When officers arrived, police confronted him near the front door of a Columns Drive home and ordered him several times to drop the weapon, Wilson said.

When the suspect refused, according to Wilson, an officer fired at and struck the suspect, who was taken to Wellstar Kennestone Hospital.

The Georgia Bureau of Investigation has taken over the case and in a release Wednesday afternoon, said the suspect was identified as Thomas Yarborough, 83, of Marietta.

The GBI said Yarborough is in critical condition and no officers were injured.

The GBI will turn over the findings of its investigation to the Cobb District Attorney’s Office.

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Teen arrested after carjacking, lockdown at KSU campus

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UPDATED, Jan. 25, 12:10 P.M.:

Cobb Police said Wednesday that one suspect was taken into custody and two others remain at-large following a carjacking attempt that occurred near the KSU campus Tuesday.

Officer Aaron Wilson said that three males carjacked a 2023 Cadillac on Frey Road in Kennesaw and headed toward the KSU campus around 5:30 p.m. Tuesday.

The vehicle was spotted by the Cobb Police Real-Time Crime Center near campus, and KSU authorities issued a lockdown around 6:20 p.m. following reports of an armed intruder, Wilson said in a release.

Marquise Adams, 17, of Lithonia, was arrested following a brief foot chase with the keys to the Cadillac in his possession, police said.

Police said that no shots were fired during the incident and that they searched the area for several hours for the other suspects. The investigation is continuing and anyone with information is asked to contact the Cobb Police Major Crimes Unit at 770-499-4111.

UPDATED, 8:40 PM:

An all-clear message has been issued and all campus operations have resumed.

ORIGINAL REPORT:

Kennesaw State University issued an emergency alert shortly after 6 p.m. Wednesday, saying that an armed suspect has been reported near the main campus in Kennesaw. KSU logo

The university’s Office of Emergency Management is asking those on campus to remain sheltered in place until further notice.

Shortly after 7 p.m., the message was updated to say that all persons should remain sheltered in place, and that police are searching the area.

This story will be updated.

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Lassiter soccer player seriously injured in fatal Woodstock crash

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A one-car crash in Woodstock this week that took the life of a Pope High School soccer player and another teen also caused serious injuries to three other passengers.Lassiter soccer player injured fatal crash

One of them is Chris Peixoto, a soccer player at Lassiter High School, who has been hospitalized, the Cherokee Sheriff’s Office said.

Friends of Peixoto, 17, have begun a fundraiser to help pay for his medical expenses, and have received pledges of more than $55,000.

Organizer Emiliano Gonzalez, also a Lassiter soccer player, said that Peixoto “was fortunate to survive, but is going to need multiple medical procedures, surgeries and therapy.”

Peixoto is a senior who has been a member of Lassiter’s state championship soccer teams in 2022 and 2023.

Others involved in organizing the fundraiser are Aiden McConnie, a Lassiter soccer player, and Sprayberry soccer player Gavin Crowe.

Peixoto was a passenger in a Mazda 6 that crashed into a tree on Towne Lake Parkway Tuesday night. Gabriel Escandon, 17, a senior at Pope, was pronounced dead on the scene of the crash.

The Cherokee Sheriff’s Office said that Esteban Cortez-Rendon of Woodstock, who turned 18 on Tuesday, also died after being rushed to Wellstar Kennestone Hospital.

The sheriff’s office said that the driver of the car was an 18-year-old from Smyrna who also is hospitalized, along with an 18-year-old from Tulsa, Okla.

Authorities said speed may be a factor but are still investigating the crash.

 

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Sewell Mill Road pedestrian crash seriously injures boy, 12

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Sewell Mill Road pedestrian crash seriously injures boy

A 12-year-old boy was seriously injured Wednesday when he was hit by a car crossing Sewell Mill Road, according to Cobb Police.

Officer Aaron Wilson, a spokesman for Cobb Police, said the boy was crossing Sewell Mill Road near Danforth Drive at 4:20 p.m. Wednesday when he was struck by a a 2017 Mazda CX-5 driven by Maria Murray, 61, of Marietta, in the westbound lane.

That’s just west of Bill Murdock Road near Dodgen Middle School.

Wilson said the boy was crossing outside the marked crosswalk, and Murray stopped her car in the road.

The boy was taken to Scottish Rite Children’s Hospital of Atlanta by ground ambulance with serious injuries, Wilson said.

In an email to the Dodgen school community, Principal Patricia Alford said the boy is a student there and was walking home when the crash occurred.

Cobb Police closed down Sewell Mill Road for a while and Wilson said anyone with information is asked to call the Cobb Police STEP Unit at 770-499-3987.

Pope HS student killed in single-car crash in Woodstock

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A Pope High School student and another teen were killed Tuesday night in a single-car crash in Woodstock, according to the Cherokee Sheriff’s Office.Pope HS student killed in Woodstock crash

Gabriel Escandon, 17, a senior at Pope, was pronounced dead on the scene of the crash, which took place after 8 p.m.  Tuesday on Towne Lake Parkway near Towne Lake Hills East, the sheriff’s office said.

Authorities said a Mazda 6 with five people—all of them teenagers—left the road and crashed into a tree in the median. The Cherokee Sheriff’s Office said that Esteban Cortez-Rendon of Woodstock, who turned 18 on Tuesday, also died after being rushed to Wellstar Kennestone Hospital.

The three other occupants of the vehicle were not identified. They included a 17-year-old from Marietta and the driver, 18, from Smyrna, and an 18-year-old from Oklahoma, who were seriously injured and are hospitalized.

Escandon was a member of the boys varsity soccer team at Pope.

Pope principal Matthew Bradford sent out a note to the school community about Escandon’s death:

“It is with great sadness that I share with you the passing of Senior Gabriel Escandon who attended our school. This young man was very involved in the Pope High School community through sports and academics. This will be a great loss to all who knew him. Please keep this Pope High School family and our community in your thoughts in the upcoming weeks.”

He also provided ideas for parents to help their children with grief,  including contacting the Pope counseling office, as well as community crisis resources.

A Cobb County School District spokeswoman issued the following statement Wednesday afternoon:

“Our hearts are broken today following the news that Cobb students were involved in a tragic car accident. Our thoughts are with the families, friends, and entire school community of the student who passed away and the students who are being cared for in the hospital. Additional school counselors are on site to support students and staff. The families ask that the media give them, and our schools, time to grieve. No further details are currently available, please continue to direct questions to the Communications Department.”

The Cherokee Sheriff’s Office said speed may be a factor in the crash, which remains under investigation.

 

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Cobb issues fireworks hours, restrictions for New Year’s celebrations

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If you’re planning on shooting off fireworks to ring in 2024, be advised of the allowed procedures under state law and other local restrictions.Cobb fireworks New Year's Eve

According to the Official Code of Georgia Code Title 25, Section 10-2, fireworks can be discharged until 1 a.m. New Year’s Eve, or the first hour of the new year.

On New Year’s Day, fireworks can be discharged until midnight, and there are other restrictions regarding the use of fireworks under that provision.

They include a prohibition against setting off fireworks within 100 feet of an electrical plant, water or waste-water treatment plants; electric substations; gas stations; jails or prisons; hospitals; nursing homes; and other health-care facilities.

In addition, Cobb County Government prohibits use of fireworks in any county park.

Fireworks can be set off only by adults ages 18 and older.

The Cobb Department of Fire and Emergency Services advises those discharging fireworks to refrain from placing any part of your body over a device when lighting the fuse. More safety tips:

  • Never try to re-light or pick up fireworks that have not ignited fully.
  • Never point or throw fireworks at another person.
  • Keep a bucket of water or a garden hose handy in case of fire or other mishaps.
  • Light fireworks one at a time, then move back quickly.
  • Never carry fireworks in a pocket or shoot them off in metal or glass containers.
  • After fireworks complete their burning, douse the spent device with plenty of water from a bucket or hose before discarding it to prevent a trash fire.

Unfortunately, fireworks cause serious noise issues that disturb pets. Cobb Fire advises owners to keep their pets indoors and away from windows, playing music and closing curtains if need be to drown out the noise.

Domestic animals should be collared, tagged and microchipped in case it becomes frightened, escapes and gets lost or injured.

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Cobb Police SWAT ‘Santa Project’ delivers holiday cheer

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Submitted information:Northeast Cobb car crash, Cops on Donut Shops

In 2018, officers from the Community Affairs Unit started the Cobb County Police Department SWAT Santa Project.  This now annual project takes place leading up to Christmas each year. It is a chance to give deserving families an opportunity to have an enjoyable and blessed Christmas. The SWAT Santa Project is a huge undertaking by Cobb County Police Department employees and volunteers that begins each October with the Cool Cars and Cops car show. The drawing for the SWAT Santa Raffle is held at the car show and the funds raised from the raffle are used to purchase gifts for the children at Christmas time. Over the years, raffle prizes and gifts have been donated by many generous businesses and individuals that help support this worthy cause. 

Children are identified with the help of local school counselors.  Each child creates a wish list that is compiled by the department’s Community Affairs Unit. Officers, non-sworn volunteers, and of course “SWAT Santa” himself, went shopping on December 14 at the Wal-Mart Supercenter located at 6520 Ernest Barrett Parkway in Marietta. Oftentimes, the gifts the children put on their list are not for themselves, but for parents and siblings so that they can experience the joy of giving.  This daylong shopping spree always brings joy to those involved.

All the gifts purchased at Wal-Mart will be transported to Due West United Methodist Church located at 3956 Due West Road in Marietta, where volunteers from the congregation, the community, and department, will wrap the gifts.  On Thursday, December 21, and Friday, December 22, the gifts were delivered to the homes of the children taking part in the SWAT Santa Project

SWAT Santa will be adorned in a blue Santa suit with Cobb County Police patches to demonstrate the partnership with the police department and the community. Instead of a sleigh pulled by reindeer, SWAT Santa will be making his rounds in one of the department’s armored SWAT response vehicles, known as Bearcats. Santa cheerfully visits houses, apartment complexes, and hotels, bringing his helpers and an endless supply of ice cream with him.

Anyone seeking further information about the SWAT Santa Project can reach out to Lt. McCloskey or Sgt. Grimstead at (770) 499-3984.

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Cobb Family Advocacy Center opens for domestic violence victims

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Cobb Family Advocacy Center opens

Submitted information and photo:

After years of planning and building, there is now a safe place for people to go to get the care they need when leaving destructive and abusive situations. Last week, officials and supporters cut the ribbon on the Cobb County Family Advocacy Center—a central location for crime victims to get assistance. The FAC is designed to address barriers faced by victims, by locating critical service providers under one roof with a coordinated intake process.

The FAC will meet the wide and varied needs of victims of domestic violence, sexual assault, child abuse, elder abuse, stalking, and human trafficking. Read more about the Cobb Family Advocacy Center at CobbFAC.org.

Read more about the Cobb Family Advocacy Center at CobbFAC.org.

Some more background information about the center, which operates out of the Cobb District Attorney’s Office, and is the first such center in the state of Georgia providing coordinated services:

The office was awarded a four-year grant worth up to $400,000 to create the advocacy center, which is partnering with LiveSAFE Resources, SafePath Children’s Advocacy Center, Inc., the Cobb Sheriff’s Office and Police Department, the Solicitor General’s Office, Legal Aid of Cobb County and other law enforcement and non-profit organizations.

“Make no mistake—there’s a problem with domestic violence in this county,” Cobb Chief Magisrate Court Judge Brendan Murphy said at the Dec. 15 ribbon-cutting ceremony.

“We came together to do something about it.”

Instead of having to go from government offices and courts “telling their story over and over,” Murphy said the center is designed as a single point of navigation for victims.

Cobb District Attorney Flynn Broady, who said he grew up in a home with domestic violence, said when he began to go public with his family’s story, others told him he was telling their story too.

“We knew we had to find a way to get people help,” he said. “Our vision is that we will provide a safe place for our community, especially for those who are most vulnerable.”

The facility is located at 277 Fairground Street, location of Cobb’s Department of Family and Children Services.

The hours are Monday-Friday from 9.m. to 4 p.m. Phone: 770-528-8121.

 

Woman seriously injured in crash at Canton-Jamerson roads

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Cobb Police said Tuesday a Woodstock woman sustained life-threatening injuries in a single-car crash in Northeast Cobb.Northeast Cobb car crash, Cops on Donut Shops

Officer Aaron Wilson said Christy Rowan, 51, was driving a white 2018 Toyota Rav4 southbound on Canton Road at 6:45 a.m. Tuesday when the vehicle struck a mailbox.

The vehicle then went back onto Canton Road, struck a curb near Jamerson Road and collided with “various obstacles” before hitting a raised maintenance hole, he said.

Police said the Rav4 went airborne briefly, then hit a fire hydrant and traffic signal pole.

Wilson said that Rowan was rushed to Wellstar Kennestone Hospital.

The crash investigation is continuing and anyone with information is asked to contact the Cobb County Police Department S.T.E.P. Unit at 770-499-3987.

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Cobb Police awarded H.E.A.T. grant to reduce traffic crashes

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Submitted information:Cobb Police, Holly Springs Road suspicious person, East Cobb crime forum

The Governor’s Office of Highway Safety has announced that the Cobb County Police Department is one of 21 law enforcement agencies in Georgia to receive a Highway Enforcement of Aggressive Traffic grant for the Federal 2024 Fiscal Year. Referred to as a H.E.A.T. grant, the Cobb County Police Department’s award totals $37,895.04.

The goal of the H.E.A.T. program is to combat crashes, injuries and fatalities caused by impaired driving and speeding, while also increasing seatbelt use and educating the public about traffic safety and the dangers of DUI.

The Cobb County Police Department’s H.E.A.T Unit will use the grant from GOHS to develop and implement strategies to reduce local traffic crashes due to aggressive and dangerous driving behaviors.

“With the increase in the number of persons killed in traffic crashes in Georgia and across the nation over the last year, the Governor’s Office of Highway Safety is working with partners like the Cobb County Police Department to implement programs designed to stop the risky driving behaviors that are contributing to a majority of our serious-injury and fatality crashes,” Allen Poole, Director of the Governor’s Office of Highway Safety said.” “Many of the fatal traffic crashes on our roads are preventable, and we will continue to work with our educational and enforcement partners to develop programs and initiatives that are designed to get Georgia to our goal of zero traffic deaths.”

H.E.A.T. grants fund specialized traffic enforcement units in counties throughout the state. The program was designed to assist Georgia jurisdictions with the highest rates of traffic crashes, injuries and fatalities with grants awarded based on impaired driving and speeding data.

As law enforcement partners in the Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over DUI campaign and the Click It Or Ticket seatbelt campaigns, the Cobb County Police Department will also conduct mobilizations throughout the year in coordination with GOHS’s year-round waves of high visibility patrols, multi-jurisdictional roadchecks, and sobriety checkpoints.

For more information about the H.E.A.T. program or any other GOHS campaign, visit www.gahighwaysafety.org or call 404-656-6996.

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Suspect shot by police in Northeast Cobb traffic chase dies

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Suspect shot by police in Northeast Cobb traffic chase dies

Following up our story of last week’s shooting by Woodstock Police of a suspect who allegedly dodged a traffic stop:

The suspect, Emmanuel Millard, 20, of Marietta, has died, according to his mother, who is organizing a fundraiser for burial expenses and legal fees “in our pursuit of justice for Emmanuel.”

In a GoFundMe appeal posted on Tuesday, Lenette Millard said her son died on Saturday, two days after the incident with police that ended at an intersection in Northeast Cobb.

“What’s equally devastating is the fact that this information was kept hidden from the public—my son was shot in the head by the police,” she said.

“My family is struggling to come to terms with this profound loss, and the lack of transparency surrounding Emmanuel’s tragic death only adds to our pain. The police department is wrong, yet they have provided us with no information, no closure, and no justice.”

The fundraising appeal has raised more than $1,000 of a goal of $8,000.

The Georgia Bureau of Investigation—which takes over officer-involved shootings—said Friday that Millard fled a Woodstock Police traffic stop at Highway 92 and Hames Road Thursday night, then took officers on a chase that ended at Alabama Road and Old Mountain Park Road in Northeast Cobb.

The GBI release said that during the case, Millard ran off the road several times, nearly struck other vehicles and tried to hit police vehicles.

After cornering Millard’s vehicle and causing it to crash, the GBI said Woodstock Police tried to remove the suspect from the car, then shot him once.

The GBI release didn’t say where Millard was shot, but that officers rendered aid until he was taken to North Fulton Hospital. WSB-TV reported that the incident was captured on policy body camera video.

A GBI spokeswoman confirmed Millard’s death and said the investigation is continuing. She previously had said that the agency’s findings into the shooting will be turned over to the Cobb District Attorney’s Office when the investigation is completed.

The Woodstock officer has been placed on administrative leave.

“The Woodstock Police Department understands the value of every human life and will work to maintain transparency throughout this investigation,” Woodstock Police said last Friday.

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Woodstock police shoot suspect following chase into NE Cobb

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The Georgia Bureau of Investigation said Friday it is conducting an investigation into an officer-involved shooting following a vehicle chase that ended in Northeast Cobb.GBI drug trafficking arrests NE Cobb home search

A GBI release Friday afternoon said that a Woodstock Police officer shot Emmanuel Millard, 20, of Marietta, Thursday night after the suspect fled a traffic stop.

Woodstock Police said Millard ran off the road several times, nearly struck other vehicles and tried to hit police vehicles.

The GBI said Millard was seriously injured from a single gunshot wound and is hospitalized.

The GBI said a preliminary report indicated that a Woodstock officer was conducting a traffic stop at Highway 92 and Hames Road, near the Cobb County line, around 10:45 p.m. Thursday when the driver of the vehicle refused to stop.

He led officers on a pursuit before they were able to perform a PIT maneuver (Precision Mobilization Technique) on the vehicle, boxing it in near the intersection of Highway 92 (Alabama Road) and Old Mountain Park Road, near the Cobb-Roswell line.

As officers tried to remove the suspect from the car, Millard was shot once, and officers rendered aid until EMS arrived on the scene, according to the GBI.

The GBI said Millard was in serious condition at North Fulton Hospital. The agency said the results of its investigation into the shooting will be sent to the Cobb District Attorney’s Office for review. 

The officer was place on administrative leave by Woodstock Police.

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11-year-old pedestrian hit by car on Post Oak Tritt Road

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Cobb Police said a girl was hit by a car Tuesday morning as she was crossing Post Oak Tritt Road.Northeast Cobb car crash, Cops on Donut Shops

Officer Shenise Barner said the unidentified girl, who is 11 years old, was crossing Post Oak Tritt Road at Bennington Drive at 8:42 a.m. when she was hit by a white Honda CR-V driven by Amanda Finley, 38, of Marietta.

That intersection is located between Sandy Plains Road and Holly Springs Road. 

Barner said the collision took place outside the pedestrian crossing and and that the girl was taken to WellStar Kennestone Hospital with serious injuries.

Police said Finley was not injured and that anyone with more information about the incident is asked to call 770-499-4987,

2023 East Cobb Public Safety Appreciation donations accepted

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East Cobb Public Safety Appreciation Dinner
Precinct 4 officers and staff enjoying a Public Safety Appreciation Celebration at Olde Towne Athletic Club. ECN file.

Three organizations, including the East Cobb Business Association, are putting together an appreciation celebration for Cobb Police Precinct 4 personnel next month and are collecting donations from the public.

Susan Hampton, who’s a co-chair of the joint effort with the Cobb Chamber of Commerce and the Cobb Public Safety Foundation, said the event will take place in November and the deadline for making donations is Nov. 1.

Precinct 4 personnel are treated to a night of food and entertainment and are presented with gifts and door prizes as a show of appreication from the community (see our previous coverage).

She said that gift cards “are ideal” and that popular items include gift cards in general, as well as for those for big-box stores, restaurants and AMEX/Visa/Master Card gift cards. The suggested amounts are $25, $50 and $100.

Hampton said that you can make donations online at the Cobb Public Safety Foundation website or contact her at 404-218-6216 or Susan.Hampton6216@gmail.com.

If you’re writing a check, make it payable to “CCPSF, Inc.” and include “public safety celebration” in the memo line.

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The donations are tax-deductible

Cobb 911 launches ‘Logan’s List’ to identify those with special needs

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Submitted information:Cobb 911 Logan's List

The Cobb County Department of Emergency Communications (DEC) is now accepting responses for its Logan’s List database to identify those members of our community with special needs. The voluntary database allows Cobb DEC personnel to alert law enforcement or emergency responders that there are individuals in a home with special needs that could impede their ability to communicate with them. Signed into law in May 2021 by Georgia Governor Brian Kemp, Logan’s List was inspired by a Georgia teen with autism and other special needs.

“Our ultimate goal is to fulfill the needs of all members of our community; programs like this help us do just that,” says Cobb DEC Director Melissa Alterio. “Responders will be made aware of those mental, physical, or neurological conditions before arriving on scene so they can respond appropriately.”

Registering your family members for this database would help responders by letting them know they are non-verbal, how they best communicate, whether they are easily agitated, or whether sirens and flashing lights upset them. This information is essential to make sure those in public safety can best help those with special needs. The two-page form takes only a few minutes to complete and could help keep responders and citizens safe.

Cobb DEC’s implementation of this program comes after months of research and identifying how the team would gather and disseminate that information to responders. Once a person has completed the necessary form, the data will be available in the DEC Computer-Aided Dispatch system for telecommunicators, officers, and firefighters to see. The agency will keep a record of information in the database for six months and advise those added to the database to update any information and re-register every six months.

“We encourage those with a family member that may be special needs to please register your loved ones,” Alterio says.

To register for the Cobb County 911 Logan’s List database or more information, visit their website, cobbcounty.org/911, email 911LogansList@cobbcounty.org, or call 770-590-5711. 

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Cobb commissioners approve funding to finish police Precinct 6

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Cobb Police Precinct 6

The Cobb Board of Commissioners on Tuesday approved spending $2.2 million to finish interior work on the new Cobb Police Precinct 6 in Northeast Cobb.

The facility located next to the Mountain View Aquatic Center on Gordy Parkway at Sandy Plains Road was budgeted for $5 million as part of the 2016 Cobb SPLOST (Special-Purpose Local-Option Sales Tax).

Ground was broken in late 2021, but rising construction costs pushed the project well over budget, to $7.7 million, and commissioners approved an additional $400,000 last year.

But the Cobb Department of Public Safety said the building is only 60 percent complete, with interior build-out still to be finished, and the work needs to be done now to avoid funding issues.

Public safety director Mike Register, a former Cobb police chief, said $200,000 of the new funding from the county’s general fund reserve would be for contingency costs for Batson-Cook, the contractor.

Commissioner JoAnn Birrell of District thanked Register, who was recently reappointed to his former role and who took she and her colleagues on a tour of a project she has been pushing for for years.

The vote was 4-0, with Chairwoman Lisa Cupid absent.

“This is a long time coming,” she said, noting the funding is the last of her allotment from the 2016 SPLOST. “Thank you for bringing this home as soon as you got here. You hit the ground running with this. I appreciate you championing this.”

Construction is expected to be complete by next spring, with initial staffing to be for administrative staff.

Register said a typical schedule for the precinct would be from 9 a.m. to 10 p.m. as the police department works to fill a high number of vacancies, especially for patrol officers.

Precinct 6 isn’t initially being staffed for patrol staff. Most of the East Cobb area is covered by patrol units from Precinct 4, based on Lower Roswell Road, and stretching from Canton Road to the Powers Ferry Road corridor.

“It’s going to immediately impact the citizens and give them value,” he said.

Register said citizens could typically get daytime services including copies of police incident reports and for other law enforcement services.

“As our vacancies begin to dissipate, we’ll begin to slowly staff the precinct with about half the beats, as we bring it up to a fully staffed precinct,” he said.

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$2.2M in new funding sought to finish Cobb Police Precinct 6

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Cobb Police Precinct 6

Cobb public safety officials will ask commissioners on Tuesday for $2.2 million in reserve funding to complete the construction of a new police precinct in Northeast Cobb that’s been delayed by funding issues.

According to an agenda item, (you can read it here), the additional funding is needed to build out offices and other internal facilities for the long-delayed building, which is located next to the Mountain View Aquatic Center on Gordy Parkway at Sandy Plains Road.

An estimated $5.5 million has been spent thus far on the precinct, which was approved by Cobb voters in the 2016 Special-Purpose Local-Option Sales Tax (SPLOST) with a budget of $5 million.

Last June, commissioners approved a “maximum guaranteed price” of $5.4 million with Batson-Cook the contractor, as construction costs have been soaring since supply chain issues were prompted by COVID-19 closures.

Tuesday’s agenda item said that the additional funding from last year also has been depleted. The remaining work includes completing office space for command and administrative staff, holding cells, evidence rooms, workout rooms and “additional staff restrooms,” the agenda item states.

“Completing the project now will decrease construction costs and maintain the health of the existing structure,” the agenda item states. “An implementation plan for staffing is being developed by the Police Department to be executed upon completion of the project.”

The total estimated cost for the precinct is now $7.736 million.

Initial plans were for Cobb Police to house several specialized units at Precinct 6 but not have a patrol zone. Most of the East Cobb area is covered by patrol units from Precinct 4, based on Lower Roswell Road, and stretching from Canton Road to the Powers Ferry Road corridor.

The commission meeting begins at 9 a.m. Tuesday in the second floor board room of the Cobb government building (100 Cherokee St., downtown Marietta).

The full agenda can be found by clicking here.

It also will be live-streamed on the county’s website, cable TV channel (Channel 24 on Comcast) and Youtube page. Visit cobbcounty.org/CobbTV for other streaming options.

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Motorcyclist injured in Barrett Parkway-Bells Ferry crash

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Motorcyclist injured Barrett-Bells Ferry crashCobb Police said Thursday that a motorcyclist was seriously injured this morning in a crash with a car at the intersection of Barrett Parkway and Bells Ferry Road.

Lt. Joseph McCloskey said in a news release that Zachary Newsome, 28 of Cartersville, was taken to Wellstar Kennestone Hospital.

Police said the crash took place at 9:22 a.m. when a black 2004 Buick Rainer driven by Gloria Kenny, 63, of Marietta, was traveling west on Piedmont Road when she approached the intersection of Bells Ferry Road.

McCloskey said that a black 2022 Harley Davidson Heritage Classic driven by Newsome was heading east on Barrett Parkway in a designated left turn lane for Bells Ferry northbound. 

 Police said that as the motorcycle was turning left onto Bells Ferry, it struck the Buick, and Newsome was ejected.

 McCloskey said Kenny suffered minor injuries and also was taken to Kennestone by a family member. 

 He said the crash investigation is continuing and that anyone with information should call the Cobb County Police Department at 770-499-3987.

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Seven Cobb firefighters disciplined for cheating on exam

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The Cobb Fire and Emergency Services Department said Wednesday that it has disciplined seven firefighters who were found to have “collaborated on answers in a proctored-exam situation.”

Cobb Fire Chief William Johnson
Cobb Fire and Emergency Services Chief Bill Johnson

A release issued by the Cobb Communications Office said that following an internal investigation, four of the firefighters were demoted from lieutenant to engineer, and three others—two engineers and a firefighter—were suspended without pay.

“We are extremely disappointed by the poor judgment of these firefighters,” Fire Chief William Johnson said in the release.  “We launched an investigation as soon as we learned of the accusation. Those involved cooperated with us and realized they had made a huge mistake. The punishment is severe but should send a message that this department will not tolerate any breach of ethical behavior.”

The release said the exam was a state-administered certification for becoming instructors on “specific fire apparatus operations.”

He said the seven individuals otherwise had “spotless records. The discipline rendered hopefully reinforced all the values that the department embraces. It is regrettable, but it shows we will handle these situations appropriately, knowing the department’s reputation is on the line.”

Johnson said the department will review how the courses in question are handled in Cobb County and will work “with the state to make any changes necessary.”

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