East Cobb Public Safety

2 Cobb Sheriff’s deputies killed; 2 suspects arrested

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UPDATED FRIDAY 2 P.M.:

The Cobb Sheriff’s Office said Friday afternoon that the two men arrested after the shooting deaths of two deputies Thursday night will have first hearings Friday afternoon.Cobb Sheriff's Office

Officer Jeremy Blake identified the suspects as Christopher Cook and Christopher Golden, and said their hearings will be at 4 p.m. Friday in Cobb Magistrate Court.

Golden, 30, has been charged with two counts of felony murder and two counts of aggravated assault and is being held without bond, according to the Cobb Sheriff’s Office.

Cook, 32, is being booked on at least eight charges of theft by deception and theft by receiving stolen property and is being held on a bond of $1,320.

Blake said Cobb Sheriff’s Office, Cobb Police and Georgia Bureau of Investigation officials will have a press conference after the hearing to provide more details.

The names of the two deputies have not been made public as of 2 p.m. Friday.

They were shot while serving a warrant at a home on Hampton Glen Court in West Cobb Thursday evening.

Deputies were trying to serve a warrant for failure to appear on a charge of theft by deception, but no one was home, according to the Cobb Sheriff’s Office.

A vehicle then pulled into the driveway and shots were fired, the Sheriff’s Office said. An hours-long standoff ended after midnight Friday as two men peacefully surrendered.

The deputies were only the second and third from Cobb to die in the line of duty.

Cobb tax assessor’s office records show that Cook is the owner of the Hampton Glen Court home. Golden’s home address is listed at the same location, according to jail records.

UPDATED FRIDAY 1:15 A.M.:

Cobb Sheriff Craig Owens said two suspects he said “ambushed” two of his deputies Thursday were taken into custody after an hours-long standoff at a West Cobb home.

The names of the deputies have not been released pending notification of family, and the identities of the suspects also have not been revealed.

Owens said the deputies were trying to serve a warrant for failure to appear on a charge of theft by deception at a residence on Hampton Glen Drive, but no one was home.

A vehicle pulled into the driveway and gunfire ensued, according to Owens, who said the deputies were able to call for help.

One of the suspects was arrested shortly after the shootings, he said, and the other was arrested after a standoff.

Owens held a press conference shortly after midnight Friday at the Cobb Sheriff’s Office headquarters with heads of other law enforcement agencies standing by.

Cobb Police is leading the investigation.

More to come later Friday.

ORIGINAL REPORT:

The Cobb County Sheriff’s Office announced Thursday night that two of its deputies have been killed in the line of duty.

In a social media posting at 9 p.m., the Sheriff’s Office said the deputies were at a residence serving a warrant when they died. The message said a saw suspect is being barricaded and that Cobb Police SWAT and Fugitive Apprehension Support Team personnel are on the scene.

The location is on Hampton Glen Drive, a residential street west of Marietta in the Cheatham Hill area.

It’s off Irwin Road near John Ward Road, and law enforcement from multiple agencies are responding.

“We will release additional information, including the names of the fallen deputies, as it becomes available,” the Sheriff’s Office message said.

According to the Officers Down Memorial Page, the Cobb Sheriff’s Office has had only one officer killed in the line of duty previously. That was Deputy Donald Terry Garrison, who died on Aug. 27, 1990 when his patrol car was struck by a speeding vehicle on Roswell Street in Marietta.

This story will be updated.

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Cobb Police to hold Community and Faith Forum

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Submitted information:Cobb Police Community Faith Forum

The Cobb County Police Department invites you to attend the Community & Faith Forum, 6:30 p.m. Thursday, Aug. 25, at the Cobb County Public Safety Training Academy, 2435 East-West Connector, Austell.

This is an opportunity to meet CCPD’s new leadership team and hear their vision for the department and the direction they will be taking as they deal with violent crime and the safety of Cobb citizens. The goal is to build trust with our community.

The Community & Faith Forum was created to promote harmony within Cobb County by bringing together different faiths and beliefs to discuss challenging social issues and raise awareness.

This event is free and open to the public.

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Cobb Fire Station 21 crew, 911 operator earn Lifesaver awards

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Cobb Fire 21 crew Lifesaver Award

Members of Cobb Station 21 in East Cobb and a Cobb 911 operator have been recognized for their efforts in helping a parent resuscitate his son during a medical emergency.

The Cobb County Fire and Emergency Services Department announced this the staffers are the recipients of its Lifesaver Award.

Cobb 911 took a call on Jan. 2 from a father whose 13-year-old son had stopped breathing and didn’t have a pulse.

Emergency Communications Officer Emily Mistrella helped the father conduct basic CPR as Company 21, based on Lower Roswell Road, was dispatched to the scene.

Company 21 and MetroAmbulance restarted the boy’s heart with a defibrillation and other measures.

In the photo, from L-R, are Emily Mistretta of Cobb  911 and Company 21 personnel Capt. Tom Covington, Lt. David Hallford, Michal Uszynski, Nathan Ricketts, Timothy Ereddia, Monique Broussard, Edwin Sexton and Damien Whitehead.

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Cobb Police offer back-to-school traffic and safety tips

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Cobb Police back-to-school safety tips
Kindergarteners at Tritt ES get off the school bus during a ride-along event Thursday. Photo: Cobb County School District.

This week the Cobb Police Department has been rolling out safety-related information with another school year about to begin on Monday in the Cobb County School District.

The Cobb school district, which serves nearly 107,000 students at 112 schools, is  unveiling a new school crisis alert system with the 2022-23 school year. In the wake of the school shooting in May in Uvalde, Texas, the district announced that each school will be having at least one Code Red drill.

The Cobb Board of Education also has approved the hiring of non-police-certified armed guards and will permit some non-teaching staff to voluntarily carry weapons on campus.

Cobb also announced this week it has created the position of assistant superintendent for school safety initiatives and hired Osborne High School principal Josh Morreale to take on that role.

In addition to traffic reminders related to bus stops and child pedestrians, police also have provided safety tips for students at school.

On the roads, motorists are required to do the following:

  • Stop for school buses with safety lights activated and storm arms extended;
  • Stop and yield to pedestrians crossing at a crosswalk or intersection;
  • Stop for a crossing guard holding up a stop sign;
  • Never pass another vehicle stopped for pedestrians;
  • Obey all traffic signs posted in and around a traffic zone, including speed and parking restrictions.

It’s a violation of state law to disobey the instructions of a traffic control device unless directed by a law enforcement officer.

Students walking to and from school should observe the following:

  • Never walk while texting; step aside to let others pass by on a sidewalk;
  • Do not cross the street while using an electronic device;
  • Look left, then right, then left again before crossing the street and cross only at crosswalks;
  • Do not wear earbuds or headphones while walking across the street, and stay alert.

Inside the school buildings, police encourage students to take the following measures to protect themselves and their belongings:

  • Always keep lockers locked and don’t preset the combination to the last number for easy entry;
  • Secure belongings inside a locker; do not leave them on top, on benches, or in a classroom or bathroom;
  • Never share a locker combination with anyone;
  • If riding a bike, lock it to a rack or another stationary object;
  • If driving, keep the vehicle locked, windows closed and belongings out of sight;
  • Do not bring certain valuables to school, especially large amounts of cash or expensive jewelry;
  • Do not bring weapons to school, and if you see one, immediately report it to school officials and resource officer;
  • Report suspicious activities to the police, school officials, and your parents;
  • Tell a teacher, parent, or another trusted adult if you feel unsafe or if someone is bullying or threatening you;
  • Say no to adults if they ask you to do something you know is wrong, or if it makes you feel unsafe or uncomfortable.

For more information about school safety, visit the Cobb County School District’s Cobb Shield resource page; more information about school buses can be found by clicking here.

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Power restored at Cobb County Adult Detention Center

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After being out in some areas for more than two days, electrical power has been fully restored at the Cobb County Adult Detention Center.Cobb Sheriff's Office

Sgt. Jeremy Blake, the public information officer for the Cobb County Sheriff’s Office, said in a release Tuesday morning that electricity was restored at 2:15 a.m. Tuesday.

On Saturday afternoon the Towers, an inmate housing area with around 600 detainees, experienced intermittent power disruptions and electricity was lost to certain areas of the facility.

Blake said maintenance crews said the outage was caused by a water leak that had damaged a power line, preventing emergency generators from providing power to the affected areas.

He said contractors and jail maintenance staff worked over the weekend and into early Tuesday to get the parts and make repairs.

During the outage, Blake said, additional law enforcement was called to the scene. Inmates “were provided with continuous ice and water and deputies increased the frequency of safety and security checks. Extra medical staff were on standby in the towers in case of a medical emergency,” Blake said.

A number of buildings at the jail complex, which opened in 1989, are currently or will be getting overhauled. The detention center is located at 1825 County Services Parkway in Marietta.

“I would like to publicly recognize the efforts by our staff over the last 36 hours,” Cobb Sheriff Craig Owens said in the release. “Our staff came in early and stayed late to make sure every detainee was safe and taken care of. Even simple tasks like delivering three meals a day required a team effort to complete. Our staff had to carry everything up and down multiple flights of stairs to make sure everyone’s needs were met.”

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3 teens charged with arson for Chimney Lakes gazebo fire

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Cobb Fire investigators say three 14-year-old boys have been charged with third-degree arson in connection with a fire that was set to the gazebo of the Chimney Lakes subdivision in East Cobb. Cobb Fire Department fireworks safety reminder

Chief investigator Brian Beaty said in a release Thursday that delinquency complaints were filed with the Juvenile Court of Cobb County on Wednesday.

He said that Cobb Fire and Emergency crews responded to an outdoor fire on July 7 around 5:38 p.m. at a residential address on Johnson Ferry Road near Chimney Lake Drive.

According to fire investigators, Cobb Fire staffers found the lakeside gazebo “involved by fire” and that preliminary findings indicated that the three males deliberately set the structure on fire.

Beaty said that anyone with information about the incident is asked to call Cobb Fire and Emergency Services at 770-499-3869.

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Construction costs ‘elevated’ for new Cobb Police Precinct 6

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Cobb Police Precinct 6

Cobb County officials will be asking commissioners Tuesday to set what they’re calling a “Guaranteed Maximum Price” to complete the building of the new Cobb Police Precinct 6 in Northeast Cobb.

According to an agenda item, the new station to be located next to the Mountain View Aquatic Center was earmarked with $5 million in funding from the 2016 Special-Purpose Local-Option Sales Tax.

But the estimated price tag for the facility has grown to more than $5.5 million, according to the agenda item, which is recommending a build-out in stages.

“Due to currently elevated construction costs, budgeted funding is insufficient to complete build-out of the entire facility as designed,” states the agenda item.

The initial phase would include the construction of the exterior, front office spaces and a community room area, and provide space for on-site equipment access.

“When additional funding is identified, continuation of the project will be revisited at that time,” according to the budget item.

County officials are requesting $536,973 from county reserve funding to complete the project.

The new precinct initially will not have a patrol zone and instead will house police specialty units. Groundbreaking was held last November, after commissioners approved a two-phase contract with the Batson-Cook Company.

The first phase costs are $723,980 for design and other work. In the agenda item for Tuesday, the proposed Maximum Guaranteed Price for construction is $4,736,378, bringing the overall costs to $5,460,358.

Most of the East Cobb area is currently covered by Cobb Police Precinct 4, located on Lower Roswell Road.

That precinct runs from the Powers Ferry Road area to the east side of Canton Road.

Commissioners also will be asked on Tuesday to formally accept $73,824,239, the second of two lump sums from the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021. Those funds are designated for state, local and other governments as part of the continuing response to COVID-19 and can be used for infrastructure upgrades, rental and small business assistance and support for essential workers.

There also will be a public hearing at the start of the meeting for the initial draft of Cobb County’s 2040 Comprehensive Plan 5-Year Update.

The meeting starts at 7 p.m. Tuesday in the second floor board room of the Cobb government building (100 Cherokee St., downtown Marietta).

The full agenda can be found here; there are two public comment sessions at the start and near the end of the meeting.

The meeting 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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Teenage motorcyclist killed in crash on Piedmont Road

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A 17-year-old riding a motorcycle was killed Friday after a crash with a car on Piedmont Road.Northeast Cobb car crash, Cops on Donut Shops

Cobb Police said Gabriel McLachlan of Kennesaw was pronounced dead on the scene. The crash closed traffic in both directions on Piedmont Road.

Sgt. Wayne Delk said in a release that McLachlan was driving gray a 2022 Kawasaki EX400 motorcycle eastbound on Piedmont Road at 11:26 a.m. Friday as it approached Bob Bettis Road.

Police said a black 2016 Volkswagen Jetta, driven by 25-year-old Graham Dobbs of Rockmart, was heading north on Bob Bettis and preparing to make a left turn onto Piedmont.

As Dobbs made the turn, he entered the path of the motorcycle, which struck the front of the Volkwagen, according to police.

Police said McLachlan was thrown from his bike and landed on the westbound lanes of Piedmont Road. He was pronounced dead on the scene by the Cobb County Medical Examiner’s Office and his next of kin was notified, police said.

Dobbs was not injured, according to police, who said the crash remains under investigation.

Anyone with information is asked to call 770-499-3987.

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Motorcyclist killed in East Cobb crash on Alabama Road

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Motorcyclist killed Old Alabama Road crash

A Woodstock man was killed Saturday when his motorcycle crashed with another vehicle at an intersection in Northeast Cobb.

Cobb Police Sgt. Wayne Delk identified the victim as Jason Williams, 51.

Delk said that a white and red 2004 Sprinter 2500 van driven by Steve Folds, 75, of Woodstock, was in an eastbound lane of Alabama Road (Highway 92) around 5:30 p.m. Saturday, ready to turn left at the intersection of Old Mountain Park Road.

As the van made the left turn, it was hit on the right side by a blue 2016 Yamaha FJR motorcycle driven by Williams, according to police.

Delk said Williams was ejected from the bike and was pronounced dead on the scene, and his next of kin was notified.

(A reader who passed by the scene took the above and other photos as police arrived.)

Folds was not injured, according to police, who said the crash investigation is continuing.

Anyone with information is asked to call Cobb Police at 770-499-3987.

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Sheriff’s Office: Cobb jail inmate on suicide watch dies

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The Cobb County Sheriff’s Office said Thursday that a female inmate who had been on suicide watch at the Cobb County Adult Detention Center died of an apparent suicide.Cobb sheriff

Sheriff’s Office spokesman Sgt. Jeremy Blake said in a release that Nicole Smith of Atlanta was pronounced dead at 7:54 a.m. Thursday, after being taken to a hospital.

It’s the third death of a Cobb jail detainee this month, and is the second involving possible mental health issues.

Blake said Smith had been on active suicide watch and had tried to take her own life during mandatory welfare checks conducted by Sheriff’s Office personnel around the clock every 15 minutes.

He said that staffers began life-saving procedures when Smith was discovered Thursday, but he didn’t elaborate.

Blake said Smith had been receiving professional mental health support as part of a suicide prevention program at the jail.

The Sheriff’s Office is conducting an internal investigation and has asked for assistance from the Georgia Bureau of Investigation, Blake said.

On May 12, Eva Kanja of Smyrna, who had been booked in late April for misdemeanor battery, died at the jail while undergoing a mental health evaluation.

On May 3, Joshua Capes of Kennesaw died at a hospital after being found unresponsive in his cell at the jail.

The causes of those death have not been revealed.

Cobb Sheriff Craig Owens began a detainee mental health program last fall. There were three jail inmate deaths in 2021, Owens’ first year in office, and he asked the GBI to conduct external probes of detainee deaths.

The first of those, in April 2021, was a man who died after attempting suicide.

“Unfortunately, our detention center—and thousands of detention centers across the country—have become de facto mental health hospitals,” Owens said in the release. “I will be convening local leaders, including those who just toured the facility, to help identify solutions and hopefully find treatment options outside of incarceration.”

The Cobb Sheriff’s Office had come under fire previously for a number of jail inmate deaths, prompting former Cobb District Attorney Joyette Holmes to call for an independent probe.

Among those were Kevil Wingo, who begged for medical help from jail staff and died in custody in September 2019.

The Wingo family filed a federal lawsuit against Wellstar Health system, six nurses and three sheriff’s deputies.

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Motorcyclist killed in crash at Terrell Mill Road and I-75 express lanes

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Cobb Police said a Smyrna man died Tuesday night after he was thrown from his motorcycle in a crash on Terrell Mill Road and the express lanes at Interstate 75.Northeast Cobb car crash, Cops on Donut Shops

Sgt. Wayne Delk said in a release that Harry A. Edwards, 42, was pronounced dead at Wellstar Kennestone Hospital.

Delk said the crash took place at 8:32 p.m. when Edwards, riding a dark gray 2003 Honda CBR motorcycle heading westbound on Terrell Mill Road, was approaching the north express lanes.

Police said a white 2020 Honda CR-V, driven by Robin J. Tawzer, 58, of Canton, was traveling east on Terrell Mill, in a left turn lane to get on the north express lanes.

As the Honda made the turn, police said the motorcycle crashed into the right side of the vehicle, and Edwards was ejected.

Police said he landed on the road, and was taken to the hospital.

Police said Tawzer was not injured and a passenger in the Honda, Randall R. Tawzer, 52, also of Canton, complained of injuries but refused treatment at the scene.

This crash remains under investigation police said anyone with information is asked to contact the Cobb County Police Department’s STEP unit at 770-499-3987.

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East Cobb suspect arrested following wave of home burglaries

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Cobb Police have arrested a man they say committed a home burglary in an affluent neighborhood in East Cobb last week, and as they and Marietta Police continue to investigate similar incidents.Northeast Cobb car crash, Cops on Donut Shops

Armando Casa-Rojas, of Argentina, has been charged with first-degree burglary following a burglary at a home off Old Canton Road near Roswell Road last Friday, according to an arrest warrant.

The warrant states that last Friday, May 6, around 9:30 p.m., Casa-Rojas broke into a home by breaking a window in the back, then locating and breaking open a safe.

The warrant also said that the suspect had four pry bars, a flashlight, a head lamp, a window punch and a pair of gloves inside a back pack.

Police were called to the scene and Casa-Rojas tried to get away, but he was apprehended by the police, according to the warrant.

He also has been charged with felony possession of tools for the commission of a crime and willful obstruction of a law enforcement officer.

According to Cobb Sheriff’s Office records, Casa-Rojas was booked in the Cobb County Adult Detention Center and remains there without bond.

Police have said they are investigating seven other similar burglaries, where homes are broken into at night and with no one home, targeting expensive homes and seeking items in safes, cash, jewelry and weapons.

They’ve said an organized, sophisticated burglary crew or crews have been operating in metro Atlanta in recent months. No other arrests have been made.

The arrest warrant for Casa-Rojas doesn’t state what items were taken from the home in East Cobb.

Cobb Police are encouraging homeowners to observe the following safety tips:

  • Lock your doors, including the one from the garage into the home.
  • Keep garage doors closed.
  • Use motion-sensor-activated exterior lighting.
  • Use surveillance cameras (they can be registered with the Cobb Police camera registry.
  • Turn on your audible alarm system if you have one.
  • Report suspicious persons and vehicles in your neighborhood.
Precinct 4 in East Cobb has a criminal investigations unit that investigates thefts and burglaries. For information call 770-499-4184.

New Cobb Police Chief ‘humbled, but burdened’ by appointment

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Cobb Police Chief VanHoozer

When he was hired as a Cobb Police officer in 1990, Stuart VanHoozer said he never thought he would move up the ranks to chief.

It wasn’t something a young man without a military or higher education background ever thought about, living in a basement in Mableton as he took on his first assignment as an officer on a beat, making $5.25 an hour.

“From there I fell in love with this job,” VanHoozer said Tuesday as he was introduced as the new Cobb Police Chief.

After a varied 32-year career in which he served as a patrol officer, heading up narcotics and internal affairs units, a commander at three precincts and most recently, as a deputy chief and interim co-chief, VanHoozer’s appointment was approved in a 5-0 vote of the Cobb Board of Commissioners.

He succeeds Tim Cox, who retired at the end of 2021.

“I came from pretty much nothing,” VanHoozer said in a press conference after the meeting. “All you have to do is be willing to do something great for your community.”

VanHoozer was one of four candidates formally interviewed from an initial applicant pool of 50, and his name was on a final list of three submitted to Cobb commissioners.

County Manager Jackie McMorris recommended him as the sole finalist.

VanHoozer said he was “humbled, but burdened” by his new role, and pledged that “nobody will work harder.”

VanHoozer and his fellow deputy chief Scott Hamilton have been juggling co-interim chief duties since January.

Since 2018, VanHoozer has been a deputy chief, in charge of implementing technology such as facial recognition and license-plate readers.

But intangible qualities were referenced by county leaders who spoke at the introduction.

“One of the things that captivated us was just his general empathy for everyone,” said Cobb Commission Chairwoman Lisa Cupid, who referenced her relationship with him when she represented District 4 in South Cobb.

“He cares about those he serves with and the badge that he wears.”

During heartfelt remarks after his introduction, VanHoozer talked about regular visits he would make to a child care center in South Cobb during his time as the Precinct 2 commander.

The child care center, located across the street from a shopping center known for criminal activity, especially drug-dealing, had been struck by stray bullets.

VanHoozer said he would hug some of the students and look at the bullet holes.

“All I could think about [when] I was commander of that precinct was that nothing can happen to those children while I am here,” he said.

VanHoozer touted his officers, who do what they do “without a whole lot of recognition in most areas,” noting activities behind the scenes, such as buying bicycles for kids and presenting Christmas gifts to children in need.

He also commended community leaders, including some from Austell who recognized police and law enforcement officers earlier in Tuesday’s meeting.

“We need help,” VanHoozer said, referring to open positions for officers. “We want people who are willing to bring their brains and minds together to make Cobb County safer, and to make Cobb County better.”

You can watch the full introductory press conference below.

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Cobb approves land purchase to relocate Fire Station 20

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Cobb Fire Station 20
Cobb Fire Station 20 has operated on Sewell Mill Road since 1984.

The Cobb Board of Commissioners on Tuesday approved spending $975,000 to purchase around 3.5 acres of land on Sewell Mill Road at East Piedmont Road for the relocation of Fire Station 20.

The measure was passed on the commission’s consent agenda.

According to an agenda item, the Cobb Fire Department eventually wants to replace the current station at 1298 Hilton Drive—on Sewell Mill Road between East Piedmont and Old Canton Road—that was built in 1984.

That’s eight-tenths of a mile to the west of the property for the potential new site that has owned by the McCleskey Family-East Cobb YMCA.

“To meet response needs and Fire Department’s strategic goals, this station will need to be relocated,” the agenda item states. “While the station construction will not begin immediately, this parcel of land at Sewell Mill Road and East Piedmont intersection is an ideal location for the future station.”

The item also states that the funding for the property acquisition will come from the Cobb Fire Fund, and construction of the new station would commence “in a future budget cycle.”

Last year commissioners rejected a rezoning request for those parcels to become a residential senior living development.

Fire Station 20 has been mentioned in the current East Cobb Cityhood referendum campaign.

Although located in what would remain unincorporated Cobb, Station 20’s current service area includes neighborhoods that are included in the proposed City of East Cobb.

The proposed city would have two fire stations—currently Cobb 15 and 21.

Cobb Fire officials have said at county-sponsored cityhood town halls that slower response times are likely in the City of East Cobb, but a financial feasibility study didn’t provide enough details.

The Committee for East Cobb Cityhood has worked up a page with fire and emergency services information in part to counter a cityhood page created by Cobb government that cityhood leaders includes misleading information.

Last week, Cobb government launched a “World Class” web page to tout the Cobb Fire Department on its 50th anniversary.

The East Cobb cityhood group protested, sending out a letter last week alleging the county is actively campaigning against cityhood and demanding those activities stop.

The letter included a reference to an “audacious” sign posted in front of Fire Station 21, which is part of the East Cobb Government Service Center.

That’s where early voting is taking place through May 20.

“Because the Cityhood referendum is on the ballot in that very building, the sign is an illegal piece of campaign material that must be removed at once,” stated the letter to Cobb Commission Chairwoman Lisa Cupid. “It is no coincidence that the only fire station with such a sign as of May 4, 2022 is the one where early voting is occurring.”

When East Cobb News drove by Station 20 on Friday to take the above photo for this story, the same sign had been placed there.

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Cobb commissioners scheduled to appoint new police chief

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Stuart VanHoozer, a 32-year veteran of the Cobb Police Department who is currently one of two interim police chiefs, is being recommended as the new Cobb Police Chief.Stuart VanHoozer, Cobb Police Chief

His appointment is scheduled for a vote Tuesday by the Cobb Board of Commissioners, which is having a regular meeting starting at 9 a.m.

VanHoozer would succeed Tim Cox, who retired at the end of last year.

VanHoozer and Scott Hamilton, another Cobb Police veteran, have been serving as interim co-chiefs since then.

In his time with Cobb Police, VanHoozer has served as a patrol officer, a field training officer, a narcotics officer, an internal affairs officer, a commander of three precincts and as an executive officer to the Director of the Cobb Department of Public Safety.

Since 2018, VanHoozer has served as a deputy chief.

He earned a bachelor’s degree in criminal justice and public services from Kennesaw State University.

A message from Cobb government Monday morning said that there will be a press conference regarding the police chief appointment after the meeting.

Also on Tuesday’s agenda (you can read it here) will be an update on Truist Park and The Battery.

Cobb commissioners also will be asked to consider spending $975,000 to purchase around 3.5 acres of land on Sewell Mill Road at East Piedmont Road for the relocation of Fire Station 20.

The Cobb Fire Department wants to replace the current station at 1298 Hilton Drive—on Sewell Mill Road between East Piedmont and Old Canton Road—that was built in 1984.

The property for the potential new site is owned by the McCleskey Family-East Cobb YMCA.

Last year commissioners rejected a rezoning request for those parcels to become a residential senior living development.

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

The hearing 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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East Cobb man sentenced in fatal Sandy Plains Road crash

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A driver who slammed into another vehicle near Mountain View Elementary School more than two years ago, killing an elderly man, was sentenced to five years in prison this week.East Cobb man convicted

John James Hamm, now 45, also will serve 10 years on probation when he is released, according to filings in Cobb Superior Court.

He pleaded guilty on Monday to one charge vehicular homicide, after three other similar charges were merged into one. The sentence was handed down by Judge Lark Ingram.

According to his indictment, Hamm was driving an Infiniti on Sandy Plains Road near Davis Road on Feb. 23, 2020, when it struck a Mazda truck driven by John Spadafora, 91.

Cobb Police said at the time that Spadafora died after being taken to WellStar Kennestone Hospital.

The indictment stated that as Spadafora was heading south on Sandy Plains, attempting to make a left turn onto Davis Road, he was hit by Hamm’s vehicle, heading north, that was weaving and traveling 20 miles over the posted speed limit of 45 mph,

Hamm also did not apply the brakes before the crash, according to the indictment, also states that Hamm was well over the legal alcohol limit. He was taken to Kennestone but had no life-threatening injuries.

Cobb Sheriff’s Office records indicate that Hamm was taken into custody Monday at the Cobb County Adult Detention Center.

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Cobb rolls out new ‘World Class’ portal to tout Fire Department

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East Cobber parade
A 2015 Pierce Arrow XT engine at Cobb Fire Station 21, one of two stations in the proposed City of East Cobb.

As voters in the proposed City of East Cobb vote on a referendum that would create a city with public safety services, Cobb County Government is tooting its own horn about its fire department.

The county has launched a special portal called “World Class Cobb Fire,” which explains how the Cobb Fire and Emergency Services Department is organized, including details of each major piece of equipment, a map of all stations and testimonials from personnel.

The portal’s homepage includes videos of firefighters and emergency staffers on the job, including a “day in the life” profile of a recruit coming off his first shift.

The reason for the splash page: the Cobb Fire Department is observing its 50th anniversary this year, and recently was reaccredited through 2027 by Commission on Fire Accreditation International.

Cobb also has has a top rating of 1 from the Insurance Services Office.

The ISO-1 designation is a rare one, and has been the subject of discussion in the run-up to the East Cobb Cityhood referendum on May 24.

East Cobb is the only of four proposed cities that would be providing police, fire and 911 services. Leaders of the cityhood effort said that although they weren’t proposed in legislation introduced last year, public safety services “continued to come up in various ways” when they began meeting with the public.

Cityhood opponents have claimed insurance rates would rise, saying a new city fire department would be unlikely to get an ISO-1 rating.

And county fire officials have said in town hall meetings that response times would likely increase inside a proposed City of East Cobb, which would be covered by current Cobb stations 21 (4400 Lower Roswell Road) and 15 (3892 Oak Lane).

While Cobb officials have said fire services in the proposed City of East Cobb would cost $12 million a year, a financial feasibility study conducted for the Commitee for East Cobb Cityhood estimates the annual expenses would come to $5.7 million.

The Cityhood group has fired back, accusing county officials of campaigning against the referendums, and demanded that they stop using county funds to hold town hall meetings and post information on another county government portal.

Cobb has ignored those calls, saying its Cityhood Resource Center is an objective response to public questions about the referendums.

The East Cobb Cityhood group has responded to some the Cobb Fire claims, saying residents of the proposed city are charged two to three times more for fire services than elsewhere in the county.

The cityhood supporters also said that in looking through Cobb Fire’s Strategic Plan, no capital improvements are included for stations 15 and 21. “Under funded and overcharged,” the cityhood group said. “Time for things to change.”

The World Class Cobb Fire portal indicates that Station 21 has a 2015 Pierce Arrow XT engine, a 2016 Pierce ladder truck, and a 2020 Ford F-450 Freedom Fire rescue truck.

Station 15 is equipped with a 2020 Pierce Enforcer engine.

In a flyer aimed at senior citizens, the cityhood group also says that “the city will have the ability to make targeted fire station improvements, which as of now Cobb County has no plans to improve. These benefits are extremely important for the safety and well-being of our seniors.”

The flyer also says a City of East Cobb would provide “improved ambulance transport times,” but doesn’t elaborate.

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Summer session set for Cobb Citizens Public Safety Academy

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A summer session of the Cobb Department of Public Safety’s Citizens Public Safety Academy will start in June.Cobb public safety appreciation

The 13-week program gives citizens an inside look at how the county’s public safety agencies operate, including police, fire, emergency 911 and animal services.

Some of the planned activities include tours of public safety agencies, demonstrations on firearms safety and defensive tactics, and taking part in the Cobb Fire Department’s special operations classes (Hazardous Materials, Heavy Rescue Squad, etc).

The first day of the session is June 8 at the Cobb Public Safety Police Academy (2435 East West Connector, Austell).

Participants must be at least 21 years old and either live in Cobb County or work for Cobb County government or the Cobb County School District.

Those applying must fill out a firm and undergo a background check. You can get an application in-person at the academy or receive it via e-mail by contacting Sgt. Verola at Victor.Verola@cobbcounty.org.

Completed applications must be delivered in-person at the Cobb Police Internal Affairs Department (545 S. Fairground St., Marietta). Applicants myst bring their driver’s license.

The deadline to apply is June 1.

For questions about Cobb County Citizens Public Safety Academy, contact the Police Academy at 770-499-4100.

 

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Woman and dog killed in pedestrian crash near Sprayberry HS

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Sandy Plains Road pedestrian fatality crash

Cobb Police said a woman and her dog were killed after they were struck by a pickup truck as they were crossing Sandy Plains Road near Sprayberry High School Monday night.

Police said the woman was walking her dog around 9:13 p.m. at the intersection of Sandy Plains Road and Whitlock Road when she crossed into the path of a Ford Ranger heading south on Sandy Plains.

The woman and dog were both killed on impact, according to police, who have not released her name pending notification of kin.

Police said the driver of the Ford Ranger, Robert Liebmann, 53, of Marietta, was not injured.

Police are asking anyone with information about the crash to call 770-499-3987.

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East Cobb realtor to hold luncheon for first responders, military

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East Cobb realtor first responders luncheon
Firefighters from Cobb Fire Station 3 at the 2021 first responders luncheon.

First responders and military veterans will be treated to lunch next Wednesday, March 30, by East Cobb realtor Janice Overbeck.

She’s holding an appreciation luncheon from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Janice Overbeck Real Estate Team offices (2249 Roswell Road).

Police officers, firefighters, EMTs, active and retired military personnel are included in those invited to the luncheon. A food truck sponsored by Capital City Home Loans will serve burgers and hotdogs, along with food from other local business partners.

Attendees can have lunch on the back patio or take it to go. They’re asked to RSVP at 404-585-8881 or email janiceoverbeck@janiceoverbeck.com.

Cobb County Animal Services also will be holding an adoption event. For information click here.

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