Launch of the Citizens on Patrol Program

********** For Immediate Release **********

Incident:  Launch of the Citizens on Patrol Program
Date:  November 10, 2016
Location:  Dunwoody Police Department

In June 2016, Dunwoody Police Chief Billy Grogan announced the addition of the Citizens on Patrol program, which is designed to allow Dunwoody citizens to assist law enforcement personnel by reporting suspicious activity, potential hazards and even crimes in progress to the Dunwoody Police Department, along with performing other non-enforcement actions such as business checks and residential checks for residents who are on vacation.

After a rigorous interview process, eight former graduates of the Dunwoody Citizens’ Police Academy were selected as members of the inaugural class of the Citizens on Patrol Program:  Jim Sturgis, Ron Silvers, Jim Roberts, Russ Thompson, Julian Black, Jim Kilburn, Wayne Radloff and Kris Bhatia.

After completing twenty-six hours of classroom instruction and vehicle operator training, these eight team members began in-car training on September 23, 2016, with each volunteer riding with an Officer in the Community Outreach Unit.  The COP members received instruction on how to perform residence and business checks, park patrols, traffic direction and other non-enforcement activities, along with learning how to detect and report suspicious persons or activities.  The final phase of training will be completed on Friday, November 11, 2016, with the next step being solo patrols conducted by two-person teams.

Citizens on Patrol Program team members will be introduced to the Dunwoody City Council on Monday, November 14th at 6:00pm.  The formal start of the program is scheduled for Tuesday, November 15th at 9:00am.  Following a brief presentation on the program and introduction of its members, available volunteers will be available for questions and statements before beginning the first solo patrols of the City of Dunwoody.  Media officials and the general public are welcome to attend the event, which will be held at 41 Perimeter Center East in Dunwoody.

In discussing the program, Chief Grogan stated, “Due to the overwhelming success of the Citizens on Patrol program in neighboring jurisdictions, we are implementing the program here in Dunwoody.  Each volunteer patrol on the streets will increase both community safety and department effectiveness by adding more eyes and ears on the road, and by freeing up sworn police officers to complete other critical tasks.  This will help to ensure the City of Dunwoody remains a safe place in which to live and work.”

For more information, contact the Dunwoody Police Department’s Community Outreach Unit via telephone at (678) 382-6917 or via Email at communityoutreach@dunwoodyga.gov.

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