Atlanta Police Department April 2014 Highlights

Atlanta Police Continue Community Outreach Efforts

April 2, 2014

The Atlanta Police Department continued to participate in the “Fulton County’s Crime & Safety Summit” series. This month, Atlanta Police Command Staff attended two community meetings.

Deputy Chief Ernest Finley and Major Wayne Whitmire provided information on current APD safety efforts and responded to questions from citizens concerned about crime.

Midtown Patch Story Another Fulton County Crime & Safety Summit Wednesday

Midtown Patch Story

Crime & Safety Summit in Midtown Tuesday

AJC Story Leaders to host crime forum

Neighborhood Newspapers

Officials to host public safety summit

My Fox Atlanta Midtown neighbors

meet with community leaders about crime

Atlanta Police Open Citizens Academy April 3, 2014

The Atlanta Police Department opened the 2014 Spring Citizens Police Academy offering residents a hands-on opportunity to explore everyday police activities. The academy educates the public about

the department's operations and also gives police a chance to get feedback from citizens. The Citizens Police Academy includes 30 hours of classes broken down into three-hour sessions one

night a week over seven weeks.

East Patch Story APD Seeking Participants for Citizens Police Academy

Atlanta Police First in the Nation to Use Facial Recognition Technology

April 3, 2014

The Atlanta Police Department is testing a new facial recognition software to help

identify and capture criminals. The program compares photos of unknown suspects with images from a current criminal database. The Atlanta Police Department is the first law enforcement agency in the nation to use the technology and the Department

hopes the program will lead to increased arrests. .

APD Testing New Software WSB-TV

APD Testing New Software

Atlanta Crime Lowest in 44 years April 4, 2014

Atlanta Intown Paper Story Report: Atlanta crime drop more than double

the national rate

Atlanta Business Chronicle Atlanta Police Foundation:

Crime dropped 30 percent in 2013

CBS 46 Story Report: Overall crime in Atlanta down 30 percent

AJC Story

Report: Violent crime down in Atlanta last year

The Atlanta Police Foundation released its annual crime report showing that crime in the city has significantly dropped by 30 percent. The report compares the 2013 calendar year to 2012 and

reveals that total crime in the city is at its lowest in 44 years. The Atlanta Police Foundation is an important partner that supports the department’s staffing and technology efforts. In the last few

years, the Foundation has helped develop the Video Integration Center, the Atlanta Police Intelligence Network and the predictive policing software, PredPol.

Atlanta Police Host Free Youth Events April 5, 2014

Atlanta Police hosted two free youth events in April. The Atlanta Police Athletic League hosted a free tennis day to encourage kids to stay active. The School Detectives Section also sponsored a free

Spring Break camp for Atlanta Public Schools students. The week-long Larry Bacon Annual Basketball Bash provided basketball clinics, cheerleading lessons, free lunch and daily prizes to all

middle and high school students. APD thanks event sponsors V103, Pepsi, Gatorade, Ice Box, Patchwerk Recording Studios, Paulsen Foods, Flowers Foods, and Atlanta Public Schools.

Cascade Patch Story APD Athletic League Hosting

Free Youth Tennis Day Saturday

Buckhead Patch Story Free Spring Break Sports Events

for APS Students from APD

Atlanta Police Homicide Unit Highlighted on National TV show

April 8, 2014

The Atlanta Police Department’s Homicide Unit and Investigator Summer Benton were featured on the TLC Network. The "Women of Homicide” was a reality series that followed female detectives from several police departments. Investigator Benton is a 12-year department veteran who has

solved 23 cases and is also a hostage negotiator for the City of Atlanta.

Channel Guide Magazine Story Interview: Detective Summer Benton

of TLC’s Women of Homicide

AJC TLC’s ‘Women of Homicide’ features

Atlanta detective Summer Benton

East Atlanta Patch Atlanta Police to Appear in

TV Show 'Women of Homicide'

Atlanta Police Continues to Boost Police Force April 10, 2014

This month, the Atlanta Police Department added 28 new officers to the police force. Class 235

consisted of 26 male and 2 female officers. The new officers completed 22 weeks of rigorous training at the Atlanta Police Academy. Next, the new officers will complete 12 weeks of field training with veteran officers. The Atlanta Police Department is the largest force in Georgia with more than 2,000 officers.

Fox Atlanta Story Atlanta police swearing in 28 new officers

Decaturish Story

More cops – Atlanta to swear in 28 new officers

Atlanta Police Continue Day in the Life Series with Homicide Unit Commander Paul Guerrucci

April 16, 2014

Atlanta Police continued the Day in the Life social media series by following Captain Paul Guerrucci, commander of the Homicide Unit. On April 16, citizens were able to witness Captain Guerrucci’s

10+ hour day that included leading a community canvas, attending a retirement luncheon for one the department’s lead detectives and teaching a college course on criminal investigations. The Homicide Unit investigates cold case murders, kidnappings and police involved shootings. The Atlanta Police Department Homicide Unit is one of the best in the country with a clearance rate 20 percent above

the national average.

Atlanta Police Catch Notorious Credit Card Identity Thieves

April 18, 2014

Atlanta Police arrested two suspected wallet thieves responsible for hundreds of fraudulent credit card charges. Cortez Benjamin and Cherie Miller were caught at a college campus bookstore

attempting to purchase items with stolen credit cards. In January, the pair were also involved in an incident where a woman's purse was stolen from a Midtown restaurant. The suspects targeted

customers throughout metro Atlanta and face more than 140 different charges.

WSB Radio Story Atlanta police catch wallet snatchers red-handed

WSB-TV Story Pair facing 140+ charges of credit card theft, ID fraud

Atlanta Police Help Collect Unwanted Prescription Drugs

April 26, 2014

Atlanta Police partnered with the United States Drug Enforcement Administration to help citizens dispose of unwanted prescription medication. National Prescription Drug Take-Back Day provides a

safe and convenient means of disposing of prescription drugs. This year, the Atlanta Police Department collected 305 pounds of prescription pills, exceeding last year's collection of more than 89 pounds.

Midtown Patch

Drug Take-Back Day Is April 27

Social Media Networks Facebook City of Atlanta Police Department 5,543 Likes 687 YTD Twitter @Atlanta_Police 8,819 Followers 1974 YTD

APD You Tube 551 subscribers 248,824 views APD Recruit Class 235 Swearing In Ceremony Atlanta Police swear in new recruits to the Department. The ceremony was held at the Atlanta Police Training Academy.

Prepared by Atlanta Police Department

Public Affairs Unit April 2014