October 4th, 2013
BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS
Henry County Police Department Awarded H.E.A.T. Grant
Regular Meetings October 15th at 6:30 p.m.
Meetings held at: Administration Building Community Room 140 Henry Parkway McDonough, GA 30253
Regular Commission meetings will air Fridays, Saturdays, Mondays and Wednesdays on Henry TV Channel 14 and AT&T U-Verse Channel 99, at 9 a.m. & 7 p.m.
The Henry County Board of Commissioners approved acceptance of a H.E.A.T. Grant in the amount of $54,400 from the Governor’s Office of Highway Safety (G.O.H.S.) to subsidize the County’s current H.E.A.T. program. The action came at Tuesday’s regular Commission meeting. The grant will be used to fund part of the salaries for officers in the HCPD’s H.E.A.T. Unit. The unit consists of one sergeant and three officers whose focus is to develop and implement
ways to reduce impaired driving, speed related injuries and fatalities as well as educate the community on safe driving practices. The Henry County H.E.A.T. Unit has been widely recognized for successfully curtailing such dangerous and illegal driving practices, making our county safer for citizens and visitors. In 2012, the H.E.A.T. Unit once again won H.E.A.T./D.U.I Taskforce of the Year, as it has for the past five years. The 2013-2014 G.O.H.S. grant will provide funding for 40 percent of the Continued on Page 3 the henry county update
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October 4th, 2013 Henry County Police Department Awarded State Certification for Best Practices
Henry County Police Chief Keith Nichols was awarded a plaque from the Georgia State Law Enforcement Certification Program for the Henry County Police Department’s success in obtaining recertification. Officer Joseph Hencely, compliance manager with the police department, was also recognized for his diligence and commitment to the state certification program. Billy Grogan, Chief of Police with the Dunwoody Police Department and Fourth Vice President with the Georgia Association of Chiefs of Police, made the presentation at the October 1 regular Commission meeting.
The Henry County Police Department was originally certified three years ago, and recently underwent the more difficult process for recertification, completing five of the six standards. The sixth standard is ongoing compliance and monitoring. The standards are considered best practice for law enforcement and include application, policy development and compliance, assessment, joint review committee and awards ceremony. Out of more than 700 law agencies in Georgia, only 103 have achieved this status,” said Grogan. “By presenting this award, the Georgia State Certification
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H.E.A.T. Continued from 1 salaries and benefits for one officer and the sergeant. Henry County will be responsible for the remaining 60 percent as well as the full salaries of the other two additional in-kind officers. The grant will also pay 40 percent of the cost of the telecommunications equipment and recalibration of the radars and lasers. The County’s local match for the grant is $81,600 and funds have been allocated in the current fiscal year budget. In related news, Commissioners also approved acceptance of the Edward Byrne Memorial Justice Assistance Grant (JAG) in the amount of $24,771 to be used by the HCPD to purchase traffic investigation equipment. The grant will be used to purchase updated equipment to comprise an integrated GPS Network Rover and Data Collection system. The new mapping station will enable investigators to map and recreate serious and fatal traffic accidents in significantly less time. For more information on the Henry County Police Department, visit www.henrycountypolicedepartment.org.
AWARD Continued from 2 Program recognizes an agency for doing the right things and doing things right.� Grogan said that in order for the Henry County Police Department to achieve the certification, the department had to meet 129 standards covering eight areas of essential and effective law enforcement, and that the standards provide a blueprint for professional law enforcement. For more information on the Henry County Police Department, visit www.henrycountypolicedepartment.org.
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October 4th, 2013 Henry County Juvenile Court Awarded $100,000 Grant The Henry County Board of Commissioners approved the acceptance of a $100,000 grant on behalf of the Henry County Juvenile Court from the Georgia Criminal Justice Coordinating Council. The funds will be used to implement and expand community-centered, evidence-based services and programs to reduce the number of juveniles incarcerated, while ensuring community safety. Services and programs may include family and community reintegration and prevention services, basic life skills and employment training, job placement and educational support, as well as mentoring and apprenticeship opportunities.
There is no match required for this grant and officials anticipate launching the program later this month.
The Henry County Police Department is now using YouTube! The purpose to work in partnership with our citizens in solving and reducing crime. www.youtube.com/user/HenryCountyPoliceDpt
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Retired Educators Recognized
Chairman Tommy Smith presents a proclamation in recognition of Retired Educators Day to members of the Henry County Retired Educators Association. Pictured are: front row ( l. to r.) Kathy Hill, President-elect of the Henry County Retired Educators, President Vicki Davis and District II Commissioner Brian Preston; back row (l. to r.) District III Commissioner Gary Barham, District I Commissioner Bo Moss and District V Commissioner Bruce Holmes.
The Henry County Board of Commissioners proclaimed November 3, 2013 as Retired Educators Day, recognizing the contributions retired educators have made to their communities. The action came at the October 1 regular Commission meeting. The proclamation read in part, “It is appropriate that a day be designated for citizens to both honor and express their appreciation for the contributions that retired educators have made and continue to make for the betterment of society…Be it proclaimed that the
day of November 3, 2013 be recognized as Retired Educators Day in Henry County, during which time we encourage all citizens to honor those who have dedicated their lives to the education of our youth and recognize the contributions those retired educators continue to make in our community.” The proclamation day coincided with the state of Georgia’s observance of Retired Educators Day in Georgia.
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