Dunwoody Police Department

At first, I had a hard time finding the physical location of the Dunwoody Police Department, but I later realized that it is in an office building across the street from Perimeter Mall. The entrance to the lobby appeared to be locked, but it actually wasn't. The lobby has comfortable seats, carpeting, fliers, a duty roster, children's toys, a gift donation box for children's Christmas presents, as well as various plaques and posters. At 1319, I was greeted by the LT who set up the ride along and he informed me that my ride was en route, but things can get a little hectic. He asked me if I had any questions and I answered that I had none.



Later on, I got to have a conversation with the LT. He explained to me that there normal shift assignments and rotations are the same as those of the Kennesaw State University Police Department's. He also explained that this rotation is the norm for small police departments and that it is beneficial for officers as well. The officers can request two days off on their short weeks and have seven-day vacations. Obviously, it is a busy department based on the time it took for the officer to arrive and I witnessed this with my own eyes. I also came back on the weekend, which is even busier.



At this time, we discussed the cars. They are the ultimate adult toys. I love the sound of the engines. They are Ford Crown Victorias. The LT said, since their cars are relatively new, the department has the advantage of waiting around to see how the newer ones perform. They have tested the Ford Taurus but he said they didn't like them because they were not big enough for their larger officers. For this reason, the Dodge Charger and Chevy Tahoe will probably be the preferred replacements when the time arises. In my next post, I will continue my discussion on the cars and move on to other aspects of my ride alongs.

Ride Along Continued

I can write about the truck we were in all day, but I think it is important to get to the questions I was invited to ask at the start of the ride along. What are the normal shift assignments and rotations? The sergeant said the shifts are 12-hours long and they change at six. The rotations are a two-week cycle. On the first week, an officer works MTFSSu, and the next, he or she works WR. Is it a busy department? He said weekends can get busy, but M-R are the most busy. Which shift is best to work on in your opinion? The sergeant said when he was young, he preferred nights, but now he prefers days.



How are the overtime and advancement opportunities? He said this is a platoon-sized department and advancement opportunities exist; after all, he did make sergeant. He also said overtime opportunities exist for sporting events via sign-up sheets. We started motor patrol through campus including the parking decks. He explained that they cover an area up to 500 yards off campus. My three hours and 30 minutes of motor patrol were fascinating. However, I decline to discuss them in detail here due to the sensitive nature of some of the conversation and events. However, he did want to dispel one myth, which I will pass on. He said some people think the police want to hurt them, but in reality, the police resort to force as a last resort.



I witnessed an example of this concept first hand and hopefully, I will get to witness more. My ride along with the City of Dunwoody Police Department has been set for Friday from 1300 to 1700. I am to meet the officer in the lobby of 41 Perimeter Center East, Dunwoody, GA 30346. I am in contact with a LT in the Marietta Police Department regarding that ride along. In my next post, I intend to report on the Dunwoody ride along at the very least and hopefully report on setting up the ride along with the Marietta Police Department.

Ride Along

I arrived at the Kennesaw State University Public Safety Headquarters yesterday at 1350 for a ride along scheduled for 1400 to 1600. The window was not open at this time and I used a telephone to announce my presence. The window opened at 1355. Like the City of Atlanta Zone 2 Station, the lobby was small and clean with advertisements and awards. It has comfortable seats and honors to former officers.



My host was a sergeant serving as supervisor during that shift. He had me to sign a waiver of liability form, which was witnessed by another officer. The sergeant explained to me that, by signing the form, I waive my right to sue if he gets me killed. However, that did not happen. The rule is simple; I may go anywhere he goes unless he tells me to stay in the truck for my own safety. Speaking of trucks, we were riding in a 2WD Chevrolet Tahoe Police Pursuit Vehicle. It is the only SUV that can go as fast as Crown Victoria. It can do a J-Turn without flipping over and the sergeant should know because he is an Emergency Vehicle Operations Course Instructor.



The Crown Victoria Police Pursuit Vehicle is due to cease production. The Kennesaw State University Department of Public Safety have tested alternative vehicles to replace the Crown Victoria at the Atlanta Motor Speedway, including the Ford Police Interceptor and the Dodge Charger Police Pursuit Vehicle. They have decided to make the 2WD Chevrolet Tahoe Police Pursuit Vehicle their standard vehicle. The Kennesaw State University Police Department also uses foot, bike, and ATV patrols in areas motor patrols can not reach. Security patrols are currently conducted in Ford Rangers, but they will be replaced by full-sized pickup trucks. In my next and what I expect to be my last post on this blog, I intend to continue my discussion on this ride along and tell you of my plans for the future.

Dunwoody and Marietta

The application proper asked for the same information as the City of Atlanta Police Department Ride-Along Program's application, excluding emergency contact information. The next two pages are a waiver of liability, which contains the usual legal jargon. Like the City of Atlanta Police Department's version, it requires my signature and date and that of an unofficial witness, which I assume will be the officer who manages the ride-along program. However, unlike the City of Atlanta, it requires the signature and commission date of a notary public. The last page is a criminal history consent form, which required redundant information in addition to my social security number. I authorized my consent for 180 days.



Another application is the application to the City of Marietta Police Department's Ride-Along Program. Unlike the City of Dunwoody Police Department's application, most of the City of Marietta Police Departmnent's application can  be filled out online before it's printed. Like the City of Dunwoody Police Department's application, it is five pages long. The first page requests the same basic information as the City of Atlanta and Dunwoody Police Departments' applications, but your time preferences are limited to one four-hour block and the application makes clear that the applicant may or may not receive it.



It's guidelines are similar to those of the Cities of Atlanta's and Dunwoody's with a couple of exceptions. First, the waiver of liability must be signed in the prescense of a notary who must notarize it. Also, no audio and video recordings are allowed. In fact, no cameras or recording devices may be carried at all. In my next post, I will discuss my ride along with the Kennesaw State University Police Department and tell you of my plans for the future.

More Impressions and Applications

I told the radio-telephone operator my intent was to fill out paperwork for a ride along and she directed me to the application, which was next to the Requests for Police Reports on the wall in a plastic bin. She offered me a clip board, which I used to fill out the form. The form was simple and one-sided. It asked for basic information, emergency contacts, purpose statement, disclaimer signature, as well as time, date, and zone preferences. The form required a witness signature, most likely from the radio-telephone operator, and authorization signatures from Chief of Police George Turner and Zone 2 Commander Robert Browning.



My impressions on the police station would be incomplete if I neglected to mention the restroom. It looked clean enough to have supper in; in fact, it had a table and two chairs. There were also three sinks with mirrors and three stalls, which contrasted sharply with the women's one woman wheel-chair accessible restroom. This is a vivid demonstration of the City of Atlanta Police Department's male to female ratio of four to one.



The City of Dunwoody Police Department's Ride-Along Program application is five pages long and downloaded from http://www.dunwoodypolice.com/. The first page lists the guidelines, which includes a minimum age requirement of 18, excluding Explorers. The applicant must acknowledge with a signature and date. The form will be reviewed and approved by the Deputy Chief and Chief of Police Billy Grogan respectively. In my next post, I will continue my discussion on the City of Dunwoody Police Department's Ride-Along Program application and discuss my application to the City of Marietta Police Department's Ride-Along Program.

My Impressions

Those of you who read my last post are probably wondering why I concluded with a photograph of Georgia Eye Associates. Well, it turns out that this is also the location of Zone 2, a small police station serving North Atlanta. The police station is to the rear of Georgia Eye Associates with an entrance on the side. I was most disappointed with the Maple Drive address, which is one block to the West of the more busy Piedmont Road. While the station sits in its secluded position, motorists on Piedmont Road are committing traffic violations. I can't help to think, if the station was storefront property on Piedmont Road, it might encourage voluntary compliance. However, I was delighted by the station's internal condition.



It was spotless and the lobby is decorated with photographs of the command staff, fallen officers, plaques from local business owners and recruitment posters with the motto "Answer the Call," something I one day hope to do. I was impressed with the physical appearance of the officers, especially the officers' attention to detail. In particular I noted the radio-telephone operator's leather pouches used to hold handcuffs; they appeared to have been shined. I saw two other uniforms while I was there, a black and a white male, the latter a desk sergeant. I also saw a white female detective in conservative business attire, she greeted me although I had no official business with her. The radio-telephone operator, a black female, was friendly; she listened to Cartoon Network as she worked. In my next post I will continue with my impressions of the inside of the station and begin to discuss my application to the City of Dunwoody Police Department's Ride Along Program.

More Tips

You should not discuss the specifics of a call or identify a caller without prior consent. Also, use discretion in discussing anything you've seen or heard in a pre-shift briefing. Don't play with the shot gun release. Only trip the release when the shotgun is needed.



Unless you are a sworn officer, do not bring your firearm and equipment. However, if you have your own bullet-resistant vest, wear it under your shirt. Follow instructions. Stay in the car unless the officer asks you to move for your safety or other reasons. Ask questions to clarify your limitations and instructions beforehand.



If possible, schedule your ride along for the night shift as you will get to see and do more. Ask questions dealing with patrol. What are the normal shift assignments and rotations? Is it a busy department? Which shift is the best to work on in your opinion? How are the overtime and advancement opportunities? However, do not talk about specialized units, such as SWAT, CID, and K-9, unless the officer brings it up as it takes years to be selected for such assignments.



My call-in to Zone 2 was initiated at 1540 on 07 OCT 2011 and lasted only one minute. I was told by the radio-telephone operator that I would have to walk-in to the physical location at 3120 Maple Dr. NE Atlanta and that the paperwork was available to fill out 24 hours per day. I rode the 5 Sandy Springs-Dunwoody bus to East Paces Ferry Road, then walked to the location. On Saturday the bus runs every 30 minutes and the trip time is approximately 15 minutes. In my next post, I will continue with my impressions on Zone 2 and discuss my application to the City of Dunwoody Police Department's program.