Cobb Police Chief Tim Cox

Cobb Police Chief: ‘No room’ for racism, injustice or brutality

by

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.

Related stories

Get Our Free E-Mail Newsletter!

Every Sunday we round up the week’s top headlines and preview the upcoming week in the East Cobb News Digest. Click here to sign up, and you’re good to go!

Cobb public safety bonus approved; new police chief appointed

by
Cobb Police Chief Tim Cox, Cobb public safety bonus
New Cobb Police Chief Tim Cox served as commander of Precinct 4 in East Cobb. (Cobb Co. photo)

Selected sworn public safety employees in Cobb County will be getting a one-time bonus, but they’ll have to wait a couple of months to get it.

The Cobb Board of Commissioners voted 5-0 Tuesday to approve the $1,475 bonuses, which have been promised as a “first step” by county officials to address concerns in recent months about salaries and retention.

The bonuses won’t take effect until Aug. 2, due to a 60-day pension public notification required by state law.

By a 4-1 vote, commissioners also appointed Tim Cox, currently interim chief, to be the new Cobb Police Chief. He succeeds Mike Register, who was recently named the Cobb Public Safety Director, and his appointment is effective immediately.

The bonuses will go to police officers, firefighters and sheriff’s deputies who received satisfactory or better job performance reviews in 2018.

“This is the very first step a multi-step approach” to recruiting, keeping and better-compensating sworn public safety personnel, Cobb Commission Chairman Mike Boyce said.

For several months some public safety employees and their representatives and private citizens have been lobbying commissioners, saying current staffing and salary levels are at a “crisis.”

Before the vote, some of those strong critics thanked the commissioners and urged them to work for long-term goals, including a step-and-grade compensation system.

Among them was East Cobb resident Lance LoRusso, a former county police officer who now represents police with the Cobb Fraternal Order of Police.

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.

Related stories

In the item after the bonuses, the commissioners confirmed Cox as the new police chief. The vote wasn’t unanimous; South Cobb commissioner Lisa Cupid said she wasn’t opposed to Cox but an appointment process that “didn’t provide the public [the chance] to vet what is a significant role.”

Cox, who’s a county native, has been with Cobb Police for his entire 30-year career, and had been contemplating retirement.

His assignments have including serving as Precinct 4 commander on Lower Roswell Road, noted by East Cobb commissioner Bob Ott.

“I can think of no better person,” Ott said. “He is a stabilizing force. He is the go-to person no matter the position.”

That’s what Register cited in his recommendation of Cox, saying he provides “an air of stability” for a police department facing numerous challenges, including the salary and retention issues.

Cox has been deputy chief under Register, who’s implemented a number of community policing initiatives. Cox has said he will be willing to stay on three more years.

“This is the only police department I’ve ever wanted to work for,” he said after the vote. “But this is not about me. It’s about the department.

 

Get Our Free E-Mail Newsletter!

Every Sunday we round up the week’s top headlines and preview the upcoming week in the East Cobb News Digest. Click here to sign up, and you’re good to go!