POLICE DEPARTMENT Grant Will Enhance Community Safety

BY JESSE EVANS

The Acworth Police Department (APD) is committed to maintaining a safe and vibrant community for our residents and visitors. With this in mind, we are pleased to share some great news about a major recent achievement. Thanks to the hard work and dedication of the men and women of the department and their commitment to public safety, law enforcement and crime victims, we have been awarded more than $930,000 from the state of Georgia through the Public Safety and Community Violence Reduction Strategies Grant.

This significant funding will play a pivotal role in bolstering our department’s capabilities and reinforcing our unwavering commitment to ensuring the safety and well-being of our community. It will enable our department to enhance our crime prevention investigative abilities in ways we would not have been able to achieve without this large investment from the state.

One of the key components of the grant is the launch of an intelligence-led policing initiative, which will leverage cutting-edge technology and foster collaboration with the public and other law enforcement agencies. Through this endeavor, we will be partnering with the Cobb County Police Department and using the Real-Time Crime Center, a revolutionary tool in our ongoing fight against violent crime. The center enables police departments to partner with anyone in the community to share technological resources to investigate crimes as they are happening. Through the use of connected licenseplate readers, cameras and mapping technology, officers in the center are able to relay detailed information to investigators on the scene.

In addition to facilitating and enhancing our abilities to solve crimes quickly, the Real-Time Crime Center also helps protect officers from dangers they might not be able to anticipate otherwise. Additionally, we will be investing in new computers and license-plate readers, bolstering our technological resources and significantly improving our overall operational efficiency. This technology truly is a game changer for our agency and our community.

The intelligence-led policing initiative represents a significant milestone for the APD. By harnessing the power of technology and forging strategic partnerships, we are taking proactive measures to prevent crime, identify patterns and target areas of concern. This initiative perfectly aligns with our core mission of serving and protecting our community, enabling us to respond swiftly and effectively to incidents as they arise.

We are incredibly grateful to the state of Georgia for this generous grant and the recognition of our ongoing efforts to maintain community safety. This funding will equip us with the necessary tools to enhance public safety measures, strengthen our officers’ capabilities and ultimately will foster a stronger relationship between law enforcement and the community we proudly serve.

The APD always has remained steadfast in upholding the highest standards of professionalism, integrity and community engagement. We firmly believe that this grant, along with the intelligence-led policing initiative, will be instrumental in furthering our mission to create a safe and secure environment for all residents, businesses and visitors in our great city. With your support and our continued dedication, we can build a safer, stronger and more resilient community for generations to come.

Chief Jesse Evans has served more than 20 years as a prosecutor and law enforcement professional. He is a native of Acworth and knows there is no better place to live, work and play.