East Cobb Public Safety

Cobb Cityhood town hall focuses on East Cobb public safety

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Cobb Fire Chief Bill Johnson
“The last thing we want to do is remove services for residents of unincorporated Cobb,” Cobb Fire Chief Bill Johnson said.

Public safety services for the proposed City of East Cobb generated much of the discussion at a town hall meeting held Wednesday night by Cobb Commission Chairwoman Lisa Cupid.

It’s the first of several town halls county officials will be holding in the coming weeks as voters in East Cobb, Lost Mountain and Vinings will decide cityhood referendums on May 24. A Mableton cityhood bill is still being considered in the Georgia legislature.

County leaders said they cannot take official positions on cityhood, but said their sessions are meant to be informational.

Questions were submitted by citizens in advance and read on index cards by Cobb public information officer Ross Cavitt.

(You can watch a replay of Wednesday’s town hall, which lasted around an hour, by clicking here. Dates and locations for future town halls are to be determined.)

At a Cobb Board of Commissioners work session in February, county finance head Bill Volckmann said the impact to the county budget would be $41.4 million annually if all four cities are created. (The county has created a cityhood page that is being updated.)

Of that, they estimate $23 million would come out of East Cobb alone (East Cobb cityhood leaders have taken issue with those financials, saying they’re misleading).

Cobb Cityhood TH Financial Impact Chart

That’s because only East Cobb is proposing to have its own police and fire departments and an E911 service.

The leaders of those agencies for Cobb County government said at the town hall they’re still learning about the details of those services in East Cobb.

But they all said it’s likely that response time for those services will rise for citizens in a new City of East Cobb.

East Cobb would have two fire stations—current Cobb Station No. 21 on Lower Roswell Road and current Cobb Station No. 15 on Oak Lane.

Cobb Fire Chief Bill Johnson said those two stations would have to expand their current footprints by 13 percent to serve a City of East Cobb with nearly 60,000 residents and covering 25 square miles.

The problem, he said, is that citizens on the western edge of the city are currently served by Station No. 20 on Sewell Mill Road, No. 3 on Terrell Mill Road, No. 19 on Powers Ferry Road and No. 3 next to the Mountain View Regional Library, all of which would remain in unincorporated Cobb.

“They absolutely will see an increase in their response time,” Johnson said.

Should a City of East Cobb be formed, mutual aid agreements would be negotiated with Cobb Police and Cobb Fire, which have similar agreements with the existing six cities in the county, to provide backup.

East Cobb fire map
Cobb Fire officials said citizens in the red shaded areas in the proposed East Cobb city and currently serviced by fire stations in unincorporated Cobb would have higher response times.

An East Cobb Police Department would be stationed at current Cobb Precinct 4 headquarters, with an estimated 71 officers, according to a financial feasibility study prepared for the Committee for East Cobb Cityhood.

Interim Cobb Police Chief Scott Hamilton echoed Johnson, and said that “if anybody needs help, we’ll come. At the end of the day, we’re a family and we all take care of each other. But response times are going to get longer.”

Cobb public safety leaders said they haven’t had any contact with East Cobb Cityhood proponents, but some meetings are slated to begin next week.

Cobb E911 director Melissa Altiero said she’s unclear if East Cobb would be handling its own emergency calls or have them answered by Cobb.

She said Cobb answers calls inside the City of Marietta, which has its own police and fire services, “and it’s a seamless response.”

Transferring calls from one call center to another, she said, takes an average of 40 seconds.

Altiero also said she would be concerned about misrouted calls further delaying response time in a City of East Cobb, and said there’s nothing in the East Cobb financial study about what kind of radio system it would have.

That study proposes transferring the 2.86 mills in the Cobb Fire Fund to provide the main revenue source for a city with an estimated $27.7 million annual budget (and that also provide planning and zoning, code enforcement and possibly parks and recreation services).

Johnson said that would amount to $14 million in lost revenue for the Cobb Fire Department, out of annual budget of $110 million.

What that would mean for the county fire department is uncertain, financially or in affecting its service levels.

“The last thing we want to do is remove services to unincorporated Cobb,” Johnson said. “The citizens have come to expect a high level of service and we want to continue to provide that service.”

Before those remarks, Cavitt read a citizen question to Cupid about whether the county would increase taxes to offset the loss of revenue due to new cities being formed, but she deflected it.

“It depends,” Cupid said. “But I am not aware of a new city that has been formed that has not raised taxes.

“If somebody can show me a new city that has not raised taxes, then no, your taxes won’t be raised. Will they be raised immediately, if this moves forward on the May ballot? The answer is no.

“In the short run, no would be a qualified answer. But in the long run, I have yet to be pointed to a new city that has not been formed where they have not had some increases in taxes.”

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East Cobb Cityhood supporters defend police and fire plans

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East Cobber parade
Station 21 at the East Cobb Government Service Center would be one of two fire stations in the proposed City of East Cobb. ECN file photo

Ever since police and fire services were included in a financial feasibility study for the proposed City of East Cobb in November, supporters of the initiative have been posed a continuing question:

Why?

When the cityhood effort was revived in 2021, the Committee for East Cobb Cityhood said it had considered public feedback in proposing what’s called a “city light” set of services—planning and zoning, code enforcement and parks and recreation.

New concerns had been raised since the initial cityhood effort began three years before, especially high-density zoning cases. An adult retail store opened on Johnson Ferry Road in June 2020, after skirting code issues to get a business license.

For most of last year, as they conducted virtual information sessions with the public and commissioned the feasibility study, cityhood proponents didn’t mention public safety.

Eligible voters in the proposed City of East Cobb will decide on May 24 on whether to form a new city, made up of around 60,000 people and centered along the Johnson Ferry Road corridor.

Three other proposed new cities in Cobb—Lost Mountain, Vinings and Mableton—are sticking with “city light” services designed to preserve those communities or enhance desired redevelopment.

Police and fire services were included in the initial East Cobb cityhood campaign that was abandoned at the end of 2019.

But as the East Cobb cityhood group met with community members last year, public safety “continued to come up in various ways,” said spokeswoman Cindy Cooperman.

East Cobb fire map
A Cobb fire department map of the proposed city of East Cobb area (in blue) served by two fire stations.

They’ve also held information meetings with neighborhood, civic and business groups over the past year, and she said that public safety “continues to be a consistent theme.”

During a special Feb. 16 Cobb Board of Commissioners work session, county public safety officials said the information provided thus far about proposed police and fire services in East Cobb isn’t sufficient.

They said they’re concerned about increased response times and are uncertain about what they may be asked to do in support (see map at right).

When asked about concerns over the expenses involved in having public safety, Cooperman said “I get that. But the [feasibility] study looks at comparable cities . . . that have done it over the long haul.”

Specifically, those include Milton and Johns Creek in North Fulton, which both have police and fire services.

“It’s not that risky,” Cooperman said, and referred to a recent interview with the East Cobb cityhood study researcher about how the feasibility process works.

While a feasibility study isn’t a budget, the East Cobb study doesn’t detail public safety salary and benefit costs, nor continuing training and equipment expenses.

The East Cobb cityhood group 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. 

The East Cobb group explains how mutual aid agreements would be worked out over the two-year transition period, and that the new city would contract with the county for police and fire services in the interim.

But that page doesn’t indicate how an East Cobb fire department would be structured. There’s been speculation that East Cobb may follow the City of Roswell, which has many rank-and-file firefighters serving in moonlighting roles from other departments.

East Cobb city forum
Mindy Seger of the anti-city East Cobb Alliance, who debated cityhood leaders in 2019, said too many changes were made to legislation this year for the May 24 referendum.

Cooperman said while she’s heard those rumors, the transition period would provide the time for “experts in the field” to work through those details.

It’s a process, she said, “that isn’t something new.”

The late changes to the proposed city services and governing structure have prompted complaints by an opposition group, the East Cobb Alliance.

The East Cobb cityhood bill sponsored by former State Rep. Matt Dollar was changed three times in the legislature, including moving the referendum from November to May, and having the mayor elected citywide after the initial bill called for council members to choose a mayor among themselves.

East Cobb Alliance leader Mindy Seger also testified before the Georgia legislature that having the vote six months earlier than originally planned won’t give voters time to “thoroughly vet the proposal and the impact it will have on our community.

“Why the rush?” she said when contacted by East Cobb News after the bill had been approved, and after Dollar stepped down from his seat.

“It’s been 4 years, 3 maps, 2 feasibility studies, 2 House bills and one untimely resignation of the legislative sponsor,” said Seger.

“The simple referendum language doesn’t begin to encompass the full weight and responsibility of incorporation and the lasting impact to our community..”

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Pedestrian killed on Lower Roswell Road after being struck by car

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Lower Roswell pedestrian fatality

A woman who was walking on Lower Roswell Road Thursday night died after being struck by a car.

Cobb Police said Elizabeth Hightower, 55, of Marietta, was pronounced dead at the scene.

In a release, Sgt. Wayne Delk said she was walking westbound on Lower Roswell at 6:52 p.m. when she was hit by a blue 2017 Nissan Altima, also heading westbound on Lower Roswell.

Police said the crash occurred near the intersection of Sunset Trail, east of Davidson Road.

Delk said Hightower was not walking within the crosswalk when she was struck. The 22-year-old driver of the Altima had minor injuries and refused medical treatment at the scene, Delk said.

Police said Hightower’s next of kin have been notified and that the crash is still being investigated. Anyone with information is asked to call 770-499-3987.

 

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Cobb officials question East Cobb police and fire proposals

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East Cobb fire map
Cobb Fire officials said areas in red would be in the new City of East Cobb (otherwise in blue) but are serviced by county stations. The area in yellow would remain in Cobb but is serviced by what would be a city station.

The leaders of Cobb County government’s public safety agencies said Tuesday that police and fire services for the proposed City of East Cobb are lacking many financial and service details.

During a special called work session of the Cobb Board of Commissioners, the heads of the county’s police, fire and 911 services showed slides highlighting what they’re providing, but said a financial feasibility study for East Cobb raises more questions than answers about what a new city may be able to deliver.

“We’re not here to advocate, but to educate,” Cobb public safety director Randy Crider said during the virtual work session, which included no discussion among commissioners. “But I’ve been asked a lot of questions I don’t have answers for.”

Legislation calling for a May 24 referendum to determine East Cobb Cityhood is awaiting Gov. Brian Kemp’s signature into law. Three other cityhood bills—for Lost Mountain, Mableton and Vinings—also are expected to receive passage, with referendums also in May.

Cobb Commission Chairwoman Lisa Cupid told legislators in January that cityhood votes in all four proposed areas were being rushed, and that the county hadn’t had time to examine the financial and service impacts.

Those presentations were made Tuesday at the work session by Cobb public safety, parks and community development officials.

(You can watch a replay of the video by clicking here; and view the presentation slides by clicking here.)

The county has created a cityhood page that claims an estimated $45 million will be lost annually of all four new Cobb cities are created.

Nearly half of that—around $23 million—would come out of East Cobb, and most of the work session was devoted to East Cobb services, specifically police and fire. The other three cities are proposing “city light” services centered on controlling growth and development.

That was also the centerpiece of the original East Cobb legislation filed in March 2021 by former State Rep. Matt Dollar. Public safety was added last fall, as researchers from Georgia State University were conducting a financial feasibility study.

That study, released in November, concluded a City of East Cobb of around 60,000 people was financially feasible, even with public safety services estimated at costing $14 million a year.

The East Cobb bill also calls for planning and zoning, code enforcement and parks and recreation services.

More than half of the proposed city’s estimated $27 million in annual revenues would come from the 2.86 mills transferred from the Cobb Fire Fund.

At Tuesday’s work session, Crider repeated concerns he expressed to legislators that the East Cobb study is “just general” about public safety issues, including staffing, equipment, response time and training.

“We need to know what’s expected of us,” he said, referring to what may be included in intergovernmental and mutual aid agreements, similar to what the county provides in backup roles with Cobb’s six existing cities.

Crider said there aren’t enough details in the East Cobb study about exactly what specialty units a new city’s police department may have, such as SWAT units.

The East Cobb study also calls for a city fire department to consist of two stations—21 on Lower Roswell Road, at the East Cobb Government Service Center, and 15 on Oak Lane.

In showing commissioners a map of the proposed city, Cobb Fire Chief Bill Johnson said he has concerns about response time.

That’s because some parts of the proposed city (in red on the map) are served by stations that would remain in unincorporated Cobb. An area that would be located just outside of the city (in yellow) is now serviced by Station 15, which would be in the new city.

He also said he didn’t know how the East Cobb fire department would be staffed. The City of Roswell, for example, has many firefighters who work part-time shifts when off-duty from full-time jobs in other fire departments.

Stuart VanHoozer, the interim Cobb Fire Chief, and Cobb 911 Director Melissa Altiero also said they were unclear how their departments may be asked to provide support to a proposed City of East Cobb.

But Cindy Cooperman, a spokeswoman for the Committee for East Cobb Cityhood, called the county’s response “disappointing,” saying the county “has not properly briefed their staff on the well-established process in Georgia to form a city.”

Should a City of East Cobb referendum be approved, elections for a mayor and six city council members would take place in November, with a two-year transition period starting in January 2023.

She said the newly elected officials would work with a transition committee appointed by the governor to formalize processes and details for transferring services to be provided by the new city.

“This is not something new,” she said, referring to similar processes that have taken place in recent years in Milton, Johns Creek and Peachtree Corners. “These cities are thriving and have happy residents as a result.”

Cooperman also said that the “internal analysis of county staff is not credible when it suggests that the cost offset to $45M in revenue will only be approximately $450K.

“The county’s rushed attempt at an analysis was not thorough enough because many vital details on actual costs still need to be disclosed by the county.

“They had a year to analyze this properly and failed to do so,” Cooperman said.

The only direct meeting between East Cobb Cityhood forces and the county was in April of 2021 between Dollar and Cupid.

Cooperman said the cityhood group reached out to Cupid for a meeting in November with the addition of police and fire services, but has not yet heard back.

Cobb government spokesman Ross Cavitt referred East Cobb News to a statement Cupid made in a video early this week “that she is open to meet with anyone.” 

He provided a statement from Cupid referencing the Dollar meeting and saying that “I met other proponents about the effort approximately 2-3 weeks ago during a legislative meeting. They said they wanted to meet again and we will work on making that happen.”

Cooperman said the cityhood group is planning an in-person town hall after the Cobb County School District winter break next week, but a specific date has not been set.

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GBI: Vehicle stolen from dead S. Ga. woman seen in East Cobb

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Johnson Ferry Road stolen vehicle murder scene
The GBI said a Hyundai Elantra spotted on Johnson Ferry Road Monday afternoon belonged to a south Georgia woman who was found dead in her home.

The Georgia Bureau of Investigation said Tuesday that a vehicle stolen from a woman found dead in her South Georgia home on Monday has been spotted in the East Cobb area.

A GBI release Tuesday said a 2006 Black Hyundai Elantra was seen Monday afternoon along Johnson Ferry Road.

The Hyundai was seen near 313 Johnson Ferry Road at 12:22 p.m. Monday, according to the GBI.

That’s located near the intersection of Johnson Ferry and Powers Road, below Lower Roswell Road.

The GBI said the car, which has a temporary Georgia tag of C0521643, belonged to a woman who was found dead in her home in Dawson, Ga., on Monday.

The GBI said after 2 p.m. Monday, Dawson Police responded to a call of an unresponsive person at a home. When police arrived, according to the GBI, they found Annie Josie Chappell, 59, who was dead.

The GBI didn’t indicate how the woman died, nor did it provide any further information about the incident.

Dawson is located in Terrell County, near Albany.

The GBI is asking anyone with information to call the Dawson Police Department at 229-995-4414 or the GBI’s regional investigate office in Sylvester at 229-777-2080.

Anonymous tips can also be submitted by calling 1-800-597-TIPS(8477), online at https://gbi.georgia.gov/submit-tips-online, or by downloading the See Something, Send Something mobile app. 

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Blackwell ES employee accused of eavesdropping in bathroom

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Blackwell ES employee accused eavesdropping

An employee at Blackwell Elementary School in Northeast Cobb has been charged with eavesdropping and cruelty to children after Cobb Police said a student saw a surveillance camera in a boys bathroom this week and reported it to a teacher.

A warrant taken out on Friday against Justin Julian, 37, of Acworth, shows that he has been charged with three counts of unlawful surveillance and one count of first degree child cruelty—all felonies—after separate alleged incidents at the Canton Road school on Wednesday.

He was taken into custody on Friday and was released from the Cobb County Adult Detention Center Saturday on a $15,000 bond, according to Cobb Sheriff’s Office records.

The warrant alleges that Julian placed a camera in a boys bathroom and on Wednesday afternoon observed a 10-year-old boy using the urinal. According to the warrant, the boy saw the camera “and was distraught and notified a school teacher.”

The warrant also alleges that Julian watched an 8-year-old boy and another 10-year-old boy use the urinal via a bathroom camera during the same time period.

Neither the warrant nor a message that went out to the Blackwell community specified Julian’s job at the school.

The Blackwell message said that school officials reported the allegations “to the local authorities and worked closely with them throughout the investigation.”

The staff member, the Blackwell message said, “is no longer allowed in our school building.”

The warrant states that Julian was required to wear an ankle monitor before he was released and he is not allowed to have contract with children 16 or under, or linger anywhere children of that age range are present.

 

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East Cobb man charged in crash that seriously injures motorcyclist

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An East Cobb man was arrested Sunday and charged with causing a serious motorcycle crash in Acworth that sent another man to the hospital.Northeast Cobb car crash, Cops on Donut Shops

Cobb Police said William English Akin, 55, of Mystic Court in northeast Cobb, was booked into the Cobb County Adult Detention Center Sunday on charges of DUI, failure to yield, and causing a serious injury by vehicle.

The latter is a felony charge, and Cobb Sheriff’s Office records indicate Akin was released on a $5,000 bond early Monday morning.

According to Cobb Police spokesman Sgt. Wayne Delk, a black 2001 Harley-Davidson XL1200C motorcycle was heading southbound on Cherokee Street in a right turn lane to westbound Lake Acworth Drive at 6:16 p.m. Sunday.

Police said that a brown 2017 GMC Sierra leaving a Racetrac gas station then veered into the path of the motorcycle, whose driver applied the brakes to avoid a collision.

But police said the Harley-Davidson overturned and the driver was ejected from the bike.

Delk said the motorcyclist, John Lloyd, 47, of Acworth, was taken to Wellstar Kennestone Hospital with serious injuries.

Police said an investigation into the crash continues and that anyone with information is asked to call  770-499-3987.

 

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Cobb Sheriff’s Office increases patrols around malls for holidays

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The Cobb Sheriff’s Office said Saturday it is assigning additional personnel to the areas around Cumberland Mall and Town Center at Cobb for the rest of the holiday shopping season.Cobb Sheriff's Office

A release said that deputies assigned to the department’s Uniform Patrol and the Fugitive Apprehension and Support Team (F.A.S.T.) began conducting routine patrols in the shopping areas around those malls on Monday, and will continue to do so through Dec. 31.

The release said while the office “is not aware of any threats, the sheriff wants to provide a safe atmosphere for those completing their holiday shopping.”

Sheriff Craig Owens said in a statement that the increased patrols are “meant to ease shoppers’ minds as they complete their last minute holiday tasks.”

Among the safety tips recommended for shoppers anywhere include not leaving packages in plain sight in vehicles, lock car doors, don’t leave vehicles unattended and remember where you park.

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Cobb holds groundbreaking for new NE Cobb police precinct

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Cobb Police Precinct 6

Last week Cobb County officials broke ground for the replacement building for the Gritters Library in Northeast Cobb (renderings and a previous post here).

On Monday, they were back in the area to shovel some turf for another new facility, the forthcoming Cobb Police Precinct 6.

That’s located next to the Mountain View Aquatic Center on Gordy Parkway, and the county provided the first renderings (seen above) of what it will look like when finished.

At Monday’s event were Cobb Commission Chairwoman Lisa Cupid, District 3 Commissioner JoAnn Birrell, Police Chief Tim Cox, Director of Public Safety Randy Crider, County Manager Dr. Jackie McMorris, and State Sen. Kay Kirkpatrick.

In November commissioners approved spending the first part of $5 million in 2016 SPLOST funds for the new precinct, which will initially house police special units but will not have a patrol zone.

The area will continue to be covered by Cobb Police patrols out of Precinct 4, located off Lower Roswell Road, and that stretches to the east side of Canton Road.

Cobb Police Precinct 6 groundbreaking

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Cobb Police create E-Commerce ‘safe zones’ for holiday shopping

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East Cobb Government Center, Cobb Police Precinct 4
Cobb Police Precinct 4 at the East Cobb Government Service Center is an e-commerce “safe zone.”

Submitted information:

This holiday season, everyone will be searching for the perfect gift at the perfect price and many will turn to e-commerce sites like Craigslist, Offer-Up and Facebook Market Place to purchase those gifts. Cobb County wants to ensure these purchases are done in a safe manner at a safe location.

Cobb Police Department staff has implemented “E-Commerce Zones” at all five precincts and headquarters to provide residents with safe places to conduct trades and sales. The zones are marked with blue signs in well-lit places that are monitored by video surveillance.

Locations of E-Commerce Safe Zones at Police Precincts and Headquartes:

  • Precinct 1: 2380 N. Cobb Parkway Kennesaw, GA 30152
  • Precinct 2: 4700 Austell Rd Austell, GA 30106
  • Precinct 3: 1901 Cumberland Parkway Atlanta, GA 30339
  • Precinct 4: 4400 Lower Roswell Rd Marietta, GA 30067
  • Precinct 5: 4640 Dallas Highway Powder Springs, GA 30127
  • Headquarters: 140 North Marietta Parkway Marietta, GA 30060

 

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Cobb commissioners approve new NE Cobb police precinct

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Cobb police precinct map
Current Cobb police patrol zones include Precinct 4, located on Lower Roswell Road in East Cobb.

UPDATED:

Commissioners approved the design/construction contract by a 5-0 vote, with District 3 representative JoAnn Birrell saying “this has been a long time coming.”

She said a groundbreaking will take place on Dec. 1 at 11 a.m.

ORIGINAL POST:

Initial design work for a new police station in Northeast Cobb is on the agenda for the Cobb Board of Commissioners Tuesday.

A contract for $723,980 with Batson-Cook Company is being presented to commissioners to design what would eventually become the Cobb Police Department’s Precinct 6.

It’s the first part of a two-phase project that’s been budgeted for $5 million in 2016 Cobb SPLOST funding.

You can read more by clicking here.

The Batson-Cook project work would include “design, project fee, and general conditions costs” for Precinct 6, according to the agenda item.

There was no other information available about the project, including the future precinct patrol area and location and how it would be staffed and funded.

Cobb government spokesman Ross Cavitt told East Cobb News in response to those questions that Precinct 6 would be located next to the Mountain View Aquatic Center (2650 Gordy Parkway).

Initially, the new facility will house the police department’s specialized units “and not have a patrol zone. That could change in the future, but that is the starting point.”

Most of the East Cobb area is currently included in Precinct 4, whose station is located on Lower Roswell Road.

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

Last month, the Cobb Police Department moved into its new headquarters on Fairground Street, in the former  LGE Community Credit Union building, a project that cost $13.5 million, also from the 2016 SPLOST.

The department had been operating out of overcrowded space on the North Marietta Parkway and Cherokee Street.

The full agenda for Tuesday’s commissioners meeting can be found here; it will start at 9 a.m. and take place in the second floor board room of the Cobb government building (100 Cherokee St., downtown Marietta).

COVID-19 protocols are being followed, including mandatory masks and a limit on in-person attendance due to social-distancing.

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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Cobb Police issue World Series safety, security, traffic bulletin

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

Like many others in the metro-Atlanta area, Cobb County Police is excited that our Braves are vying for Major League Baseball’s championship in the Fall Classic. Though we are celebrating along with everyone else, the Cobb County Police Department is also taking our role of maintaining public safety very seriously. We continue as the lead public safety agency at Truist Park, The Battery, and the surrounding areas. With the increased traffic (both vehicular and pedestrian), we have increased our footprint in all areas, and the public will notice a marked increase in patrol officers. Our department has coordinated extensive operations plans with Atlanta Braves, Cobb County Fire and Emergency Services, Cobb County Sheriff’s Office, and other federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies who have either assisted with personnel resources or will be affected by the increased flow of traffic into their own jurisdictions.

Even with our increased presence and extra security measures, we still need the public’s help in keeping this a safe and fun event for all. We encourage all visitors to Cobb County to remember to Lock-Take-Hide. While visiting for the games or out at any other venues, please make sure to Lock your vehicle when you park. Take anything of value out of your car before you leave home (or your hotel, if visiting). And if you can’t remove items of value from your car, be sure to Hide them in the trunk long before you arrive at your destination. Purses, laptops, and handguns are high-value targets for thieves and are usually the items taken from vehicles that are broken into. Please visit Cobb Travel and Tourism (www.travelcobb.org) for additional information on other events and venues if you are visiting Cobb County for the first time.

See something, say something.

Yes, we will be out in numbers, but we can’t see everything and be everywhere. If you notice something out of place or a crime being committed, please call 9-1-1. Officers working in the area will be responding to 9-1-1 calls at The Battery and the surrounding areas in as quickly a manner as possible. With the increased number of officers on foot patrol our response time to calls will be greatly decreased (faster). Reporting criminal or suspicious activity as soon as possible can help keep everyone safe and quite possibly could avoid a potentially major dangerous situation for all.

We will have a number of officers on hand specifically to help direct traffic flow (both vehicular and pedestrian). In addition, our Twitter feed (@cobbpolice1) will post updates of any traffic events and/or emergencies. We’ll also post any newsworthy updates through Twitter as well. If you aren’t following us yet, head over to Twitter and add @cobbpolice1.

The Cobb County Police Department is proud to be part of this historic occasion. And our #1 priority is to maintain a safe environment for all as we celebrate and root on our hometown Braves.

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Cobb commissioners approve $350K for World Series security

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The Battery Atlanta, World Series Security
Additional police and security will be out in force around Truist Park and The Battery Atlanta this weekend for the first World Series games in Cobb County. (ECN file)

Here’s a very late addition to the Cobb Board of Commissioners meeting lineup Tuesday night:

Just as the Atlanta Braves are set to play their first World Series game in 22 years, commissioners will be approved spending up to $350,000 in “emergency” security and other costs for games played this weekend at Truist Park.

The vote was a unanimous 5-0.

The Braves play the Astros in Houston Tuesday and Wednesday; Games 3, 4 and 5 (if necessary) would be at Truist Park Friday, Saturday and Sunday, all evening games.

The county sent out a release late Tuesday afternoon saying that the money will come from its reserve and the expenses “could include such things as supplies, equipment, signage, and overtime.”

Cobb Finance Director William Volckmann told commissioners most of the money will be used for additional overtime for security and law enforcement.

County spokesman Ross Cavitt said in the release that Cobb public safety officials have been holding meetings with Major League Baseball and state and local officials.

Cobb Public Safety Director Randy Crider said in the release that baseline security procedures have already been established stemming from plans for the MLB All-Star Game, which was to have been at Truist Park in July.

However, MLB Commissioner Rob Manfred relocated the game to Denver because of Georgia’s new elections law.

This weekend’s games will be the first World Series games to be played in Cobb County by the Braves. The franchise won its only World Series in 1995 in Atlanta at Atlanta Fulton-County Stadium.

Their last World Series was played at Turner Field in downtown Atlanta in 1999, when the Braves lost to the New York Yankees.

The Cobb statement said Cobb Police have cancelled leave, strengthened shifts and added special units “in order to increase manpower around the stadium.”

The release didn’t say how much more personnel would be in force, nor what any extra security or traffic measures would entail.

Truist Park has had five postseason games already in 2021, and the Braves clinched both of their previous series there, first against the Milwaukee Brewers and on Saturday against the Los Angeles Dodgers.

The Cobb release did say the following:

“Cobb Police and Cobb DOT have a proven traffic plan to get people in and out of the area, and they will be coordinating with GDOT and our neighboring cities to make sure fans can get in and out of the area as quickly and safely as possible. With a popular convention at the Galleria this weekend, county leaders are hoping as many area businesses as possible will encourage their employees to work remotely this Friday.”

Commission chairwoman Lisa Cupid:

“Much like the Braves, we faced some adversity earlier this year. But we are eager for the eyes of the sports world to see the unique venue that is Truist Park and the Battery Atlanta which has helped solidify Cobb County as one of the premier tourist destinations in the southeast.”

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UPDATED: Motorcyclist killed in Roswell Road crash Sunday

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East Cobb traffic alert

UPDATED, Monday, Oct. 11, 12:45 P.M.

Cobb Police said a motorcyclist was killed Sunday afternoon in a collision with a car at the intersection of Roswell Road and East Lake Parkway in East Cobb.

Officer Shenise Barner said in a release that Kathrynne L. Lynch, 28, of Marietta, was pronounced dead at the scene.

Police said Lynch was riding a red 2003 Kawasaki VN1600 motorcycle at 2:32 p.m. Sunday, heading west on Roswell Road in a left lane.

A tan 2005 Toyota Sienna was heading east on Roswell Road when it veered into the path of the motorcycle, causing a collision, according to police.

Police said the motorcycle came to a stop in the intersection, and the rider was ejected, landing nearby. The Toyota, police said, stopped in a parking lot on East Lake Parkway.

The driver of the Toyota was identified by police as Maria G. Razo-Tierrafria, 48, of Marietta. She and a juvenile passenger were not injured, according to police, who said Lynch’s next of kin have been notified.

Police said the crash remains under investigation and that anyone with information is asked to call Cobb Police investigators at 770-499-3987.

ORIGINAL REPORT:

Roswell Road westbound between Barnes Mill  Road and Robinson Road West is being blocked off by police after an accident.

We drove by shortly after 3 p.m. and saw emergency vehicles and investigators in the intersection (entrance to East Lake Shopping Center). There was an overturned motorcycle and a body next to it, covered.

Westbound traffic was backed up to East Piedmont Road.

This story will be updated.

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Cobb Police officers awarded Medal of Valor by Cobb Chamber

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Cobb Police Officers Medal Valor Cobb Chamber
Photo: Karl L. Moore/Mooreshots LLC, Courtesy of Cobb Chamber of Commerce

The Cobb Chamber of Commerce on Monday honored public safety personnel at its annual Public Safety Appreciation luncheon.

Among those honored were Cobb Police officers David Cavender, John Pearson and Bryan Moore, who responded to a carjacking in the Powers Ferry Road area in June 2020 that led to the shooting death of the suspect (previous ECN story here).

One of the officers was shot by the suspect, and for their work, they received the Chamber’s Medal of Valor, “the highest award recognizing an individual for an act of bravery in a life-threatening situation. The award is only presented when a deserving candidate is found.”

Here are more details about that incident:

On June 25, 2020, Cobb County Police officers responded to the area of Powers Ferry Road and Delk Road regarding a carjacking that had just occurred in a grocery parking lot. The victim reported that a male had brandished a knife and stole his Tesla vehicle. The suspect had arrived at the shopping center in a truck that he had earlier carjacked before fleeing in the Tesla. Cobb Police officers were able to locate the suspect and pursued him for several miles until the suspect abandoned the vehicle and fled on foot. He fired several rounds from a rifle at the pursuing officers, who took cover and lost sight of the suspect. Cobb Police SWAT Team officers David Cavender and John Pearson responded to nearby townhomes where residents had called 911 after observing the suspect entering their complex.

Officer Bryan Moore, of the Cobb Police K-9 Unit, responded to the townhomes and spoke with a resident who said that he had seen the suspect run behind a trash dumpster at the end of a parking lot. As Officer Cavender and Officer Pearson approached the dumpster on opposing sides. Moments later the suspect fired on Officer Cavender without warning. Officer Cavender was struck in the right temple by shrapnel from the one of the suspect’s rounds that had hit the holographic sight on his rifle. As Cavender turned his head to the right, he was struck on the back of his head by another rifle round. Fortunately, the round only grazed his scalp, and he was able to return fire and move to cover behind a vehicle. As that was occurring, Officer Pearson quickly located the suspect and stopped the threat. Once additional officers arrived, Officer Pearson escorted Officer Cavender to the front of the townhomes complex to meet with medical personnel. A short time later, supervisors created a tactical plan to approach the suspect and found him deceased.

Officers Cavender, Pearson and Moore are veteran members of the Cobb Police SWAT Team and K9 Unit. As they were searching for the suspect in the residential area that had dozens of potential danger areas and hiding spots, the three officers utilized their tactical training to analyze the situation and make an effective plan to solve the crisis.  Had they not changed their approach route to the suspect’s location, the incident could have had fatal consequences for Officers Cavender, Pearson and Moore, as well as many other officers and dozens of civilians who were enjoying the summer evening.

The 2021 Public Safety Appreciation Breakfast was made possible with the support of our event sponsors, including Platinum Sponsors, Cobb EMC and Wellstar Health System; Awards Sponsor, LoRusso Law Firm; Gold Sponsors, Genuine Parts Company and Walton Communities; Silver Sponsors, Barrow Wrecker Services, C.W. Matthews Contracting Co. Inc., GLOCK, Governor’s Gun Club, Kennesaw State University, Marietta Wrecker, MetroAtlanta Ambulance Service, Puckett EMS, Six Flags Over Georgia, The Cooper Firm, and Vinings Bank; and Patriot Sponsors, E. Smith Heating & Air Conditioning, Georgia Power, Marietta Family Restaurants, Mauldin & Jenkins, and Northside Hospital.

For the latest information on Public Safety Appreciation Week, visit www.cobbchamber.org/publicsafety.

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Cobb Police searching for woman missing since Friday

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This just in from the Cobb County Police Department:Nefirtiti Powers, missing Cobb woman

Cobb County Police are seeking the public’s help in locating a missing woman. 39-year-old Nefirtiti Strothers was last seen wearing brown pants, black boots, a beige shirt on top of a purple shirt, and a multicolored scarf. Nefirtiti suffers from Cerebral Palsy and has limited motor functions as well as a diminished mental capacity. She was last seen at her job on Powers Ferry Road in Cobb County and was reported missing on September 24, 2021. 

Anyone with information is asked to contact the Cobb County Police Department’s Crimes Against Persons unit at 770-499-3945.

 

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Cobb Police shoot, kill man in NE Cobb domestic dispute

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Cobb Police kill man NE Cobb domestic dispute
Photo courtesy Georgia Bureau of Investigation

Cobb Police said early Friday that officers shot and killed a man overnight at a home in Northeast Cobb after responding to a domestic dispute.

Public Information Officer Wayne Delk said in a release that shortly after midnight, police were called via 911 to a home at 4592 North Landing Drive.

That’s off Kemp Road near Trickum Road, and Delk said that when officers arrived they found a male at the residence with a large hunting knife.

“At some point the armed male presented a threat to the officers and was shot by officers,” Delk said.

The man died of his wounds, and nobody else was injured, including the officers, Delk said.

He provided no other details, including the identity of the man who was killed. The investigation is being turned over to the Georgia Bureau of Investigation, which is standard procedure in an officer-involved shooting.

UPDATED:

The GBI issued a release after 3 p.m. Friday and identified the man who was shot and killed by police as Joseph Wilbanks, 41, of Marietta.

According to the release, an officer shot Wilbanks after he advanced toward police with the knife.

The release said the 911 call was made to Cobb Police in regarding a domestic dispute involving a suicidal man, but didn’t indicate if that was Wilbanks.

The GBI said after its investigation is complete, its report will be submitted to the Cobb County District Attorney’s office.

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Cobb County Sheriff’s Office warns of ‘grandparent’ scam

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Submitted information:

A scam known as the Grandparent Scam has been reported in Cobb County. The Scammers are calling residents in Cobb County and reporting their grandchild has been involved in an automobile accident, hurt, or arrested. The Scammers will ask for you to withdraw cash from your bank account and meet with a courier to turn over the money.Cobb sheriff

If you receive a suspicious phone call, hang up and verify the safety of your family. DO NOT give cash to an unknown individual as cash cannot be tracked.

If you have any questions or believe you may have been the victim of fraud, please call our Fraud Unit at 770-499-4752.

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Two injured in crash at Powers Ferry-Terrell Mill intersection

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Two motorists were taken to Wellstar Kennestone Hospital on Sunday, one of them with serious injuries, after their vehicles crashed in the intersection of Powers Ferry and Terrell Mill roads, according to Cobb Police.Northeast Cobb car crash, Cops on Donut Shops

Police said a yellow 2021 Subaru Crosstrek SUV was heading north on Powers Ferry Road in the right lane around 7:09 a.m. Sunday at the same time a red 2005 Dodge Ram 1500 pickup truck was heading west on Terrell Mill Road in the right lane.

According to police investigators, the Subaru ignored a red traffic light and the vehicle struck the Ram, which had a green light, in the intersection.

Both vehicles were spun around, with the Subaru resting in the intersection, and the Ram stopping in the southbound left turn lanes of Powers Ferry, police said.

Police said Mayque Pereira, 28, of Marietta, the driver of the Ram, suffered serious injuries while David Toohill, 59, of Marietta, the driver of the Subaru, had non-life-threatening injuries. 

The crash remains under investigation and anyone with information is asked to call Cobb Police at 770-499-3987.

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Back-to-School tips from Cobb Neighborhood Safety Commission

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Submitted information:Cobb Neighborhood Safety Commission school tips

As summer draws to a close and children start heading back to school, family life can get hectic. It’s important to remember – and share with your children – some key tips that will help keep them safe and healthy throughout the school year.

Transportation Safety

Whether children walk, ride their bicycle or take the bus to school, it is extremely important that they take proper safety precautions. Here are some tips to make sure your child safely travels to school: 

Walkers

Review your family’s walking safety rules and practice walking to school with your child. Walk on the sidewalk, if one is available; when on a street with no sidewalk, walk facing the traffic. Before you cross the street, stop and look left, right and left again to see if cars are coming. Make eye contact with drivers before crossing and always cross streets at crosswalks or intersections. Stay alert and avoid distracted walking.

Bike Riders

Teach your child the rules of the road and practice riding the bike route to school with your child.
Ride on the right side of the road, with traffic, and in a single file;

  • Come to a complete stop before crossing the street; walk bikes across the street
  • Stay alert and avoid distracted riding
  • Make sure your child always wears a properly fitted helmet and bright clothing.

Bus Riders

Teach your children school bus safety rules and practice with them. Go to the bus stop with your child to teach them the proper way to get on and off the bus. Teach your children to stand 6 feet (or three giant steps) away from the curb. If your child must cross the street in front of the bus, teach him or her to walk on the side of the road until they are 10 feet ahead of the bus; your child and the bus driver should always be able to see each other. Here are some injury facts on bus safety.

Driving Your Child to School

Stay alert and avoid distracted driving. Obey school zone speed limits and follow your school’s drop-off procedure. Make eye contact with children who are crossing the street. Never pass a bus loading or unloading children. The area 10 feet around a school bus is the most dangerous for children; stop far enough back to allow them to safely enter and exit the bus.

Teen Drivers

Car crashes are the No. 1 cause of death for teens. Fortunately, there is something we can do.
Teens crash because they are inexperienced; practice with new drivers every week, before and after they get their license. Set a good example; drive the way you want your teen to drive. Sign the New Driver Deal, an agreement that helps define expectations for parents and teens.

For additional information please see:
School Safety – National Safety Council (nsc.org)

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