Public Safety Briefs

Family members and the Atlanta Police Department have unveiled the first in a series of billboards around East Atlanta and Decatur to elicit more clues and information about the murder of Patrick Cotrona. The first billboard is located on Candler Road. On May 25, 2013, Cotrona and two friends who were robbed at gun point on May Avenue near Flat Shoals Avenue in East Atlanta. Cotrona was shot and killed, but the murder remains unsolved. Crime Stoppers is offering a $25,000 reward for information regarding the crime by calling (404) 577-TIPS.

The Georgia Governor’s Office of Highway Safety has given a $67,000 grant to Pedestrians Educating Drivers on Safety (PEDS). The grant supports the three E’s of pedestrian safety: education, enforcement and engineering. PEDS will use these funds to provide technical assistance to government agencies, nonprofit organizations and others on pedestrian needs and solutions; increase driver compliance with speed limits and crosswalk laws; promote increased funding for sidewalks and safe crossings; increase awareness of policies and practices that promote pedestrian safety; improve government agencies’ responsiveness to pedestrian hazards; and promote installation of safe crossings on transit routes. For more about PEDS, visit peds.org.

The Fulton County Police Department promoted five officers to higher ranks in a recent pinning ceremony conducted by Chief Cassandra Jones. The officers promoted included Adrian Massey and Wesley Spivey to sergeant, Terry Bryant and Kendra Lattimore to corporal, K. ompson to detective and K.D. Stephens to detective II.

Police Chief George Turner has transferred Atlanta Police Department majors to new posts. The changes come amid retirements and the effort to keep fresh eyes on crime. Maj. Barbara Cavender will be the new commander over the Special Enforcement Section. Maj. Elder Dancy will be over the corporate services section. Maj. Jeffery Glazier will be the new commander over Zone 3. Maj. Reginald Mitchell will be in command of the special operations section. Maj. Randell Robinson will be the new commander over major crimes. Maj. Darryl Tolleson will be the new commander over the training academy.