Cobb Police Chief Tim Cox Archives

The Cobb Police Department issued the following statement Monday night from Chief Tim Cox: Cobb Police Chief Tim Cox

Over the past several days, metro Atlanta residents have seen civil unrest develop despite good citizens attempting to conduct peaceful protests. Due to such, Cobb County residents have expressed a certain level of anxiety due to the reports of violence from nearby areas. With the continued news coverage and numerous social media posts of civil unrest in the area, we understand the concerns being voiced by our residents and business owners. I’d like to take a moment to speak to our citizens and others in the metro area to help allay some fears or anxiety you may have.

The Cobb County Police Department remains committed to the safety and welfare of ALL the citizens it serves. The basic fundamental rights of each individual are at the core of our departmental values. Our Tenets of Conduct lay the foundation of our dedication to everyone we come into contact with on a daily basis. And at the core of all is that we treat all members of the community with respect. As such we have a very real, firm, and utterly unwavering disdain for all racism, injustice, or brutality. There is no room for such in our daily service to the citizens of Cobb and the many visitors we host.

Hand-in-hand with that dedication to respect all individuals is our commitment to protect our residents, business owners, and visitors. Cobb County Police officers are exceptionally well trained and equipped to safeguard the many wonderful people who choose to live, work, and visit this County. In response to current local events, not only have we implemented increased patrols in certain areas of the county, but we have also been in constant contact with city police departments and other law enforcement agencies within the county (as well as many others outside the county). This constant exchange of information has helped us all respond better to incidents quickly, many times before a serious issue can arise. And should the need arise we are prepared to provide mutual aid, sharing resources and manpower with one another.

We have also been in contact with civic leaders on a consistent basis. Long before any of the recent unrest, we worked hand in hand with local civic and community leaders to better our services to all our communities. We continue to do so now and we remain appreciative of all the support and feedback from the communities throughout Cobb County. The open dialogue we long ago established has continued through the current events and our commitment to continue to improve our relationships and services to Cobb County has not wavered.

We have had peaceful protests over the past few days in the County and adjoining cities. We have had open dialogue with organizers and participants. We respect all individuals and vow to protect them and their rights. We also vow to continue to keep the peace and maintain order in the process. I ask that the lines of communication remain open in both directions. If anyone has emergency information, please call 911 immediately. If you have information that is not an immediate emergency, call 770-499-3911. Be it here in Cobb or elsewhere, the safety of everyone is our top priority.

He said the bonuses are “a gesture of faith and not a commitment. . . . They’re looking for a commitment from you.” LoRusso asked commissioners to “fix it for years to come . . . now is the time to act,” with the ultimate goal to make Cobb “the best and most sought-after county to work in.”

Boyce has proposed pay raises for public safety employees totaling seven percent for the upcoming fiscal year 2020 budget.

“We will do something that we can be proud of,” he said after the vote.