Dalton Police Blog

Dalton Police Looking For Robbery Suspect

Dalton Police investigators are searching for a Hispanic male suspected of robbing two stores in Dalton during the evening of May 7, 2008. The suspect entered the MapCo store at 400 North Glenwood Avenue at about 8:30 PM and demanded money from the clerk. The suspect left the store with an undetermined amount of cash. At about 11:30 PM, a suspect appearing to be the same as in the earlier robbery entered the MapCo store at 1128 S. Thornton Avenue, Dalton and demanded money. The suspect left this location with an undetermined amount of cash.

The suspect in both robberies is described as a dark skinned male, possibly Hispanic, with a very light accent. The male is approximately 5 feet 8 inches to 5 feet 10 inches tall, 25-35 years old, and weighing 150-175 pounds. The suspect was wearing a white t-shirt, dark pants, and work boots in the first robbery, and dark pants, work boots, a dark button-up shirt with a white t-shirt underneath. The suspect wore sunglasses during both robberies. The suspect did not display a weapon during the robberies.

Anyone with information about this case is asked to contact Detective Nathan Lee at 706-278-9085, extension 140. Photos of the suspect are included below:

Photo of the suspect at 400 North Glenwood

Photos of the suspect at 1128 South Thornton Avenue 

Citizens Police Academy Graduation

Members of Dalton's 16th Citizens Police Academy were honored during a graduation ceremony Tuesday night at Ryman Hall. Over the past 10 weeks, participants were given an inside look into the police department with information about crime scene processing, firearms, and use of force.  The graduates were also given an opportunity to ride with an officer for an entire shift.  The next Academy will be in the Spring of 2009.  For information about the Citizens Police Academy, you can contact Sergeant Mike Dyer at 706-278-9085 extension 109 or by email at mdyer@cityofdalton.com.

Chief Jason Parker speaks to the graduating class

Academy participant accepting graduation certificate

Citizens Police Academy graduates

Addressing Project

Whitfield County's Address Location Project is currently underway and will directly affect City of Dalton residents now through early June.  Field survey crews from GeoComm will be in the city with a GPS device to identify and record addresses.  The technicians may approach homes to survey residents.  If residents are unavailable, technicians will leave an information sheet and a survey for residents to complete.  Information provided by residents will assist the completion of the Addressing Location Project.

The purpose of this project is to locate every structure in Whitfield County to aid in emergency response and correct potential errors.  The most immediate result will be more accurate dispatch of emergency responders to medical and other emergency calls.

Background on GeoComm Inc.

GeoComm is a communications engineering and GIS mapping firm specializing in Enhanced 911 Systems and Mapping for public safety entities.  GeoComm's expertise lies in the integration of communications systems with Geographic Information Systems (GIS) to provide highly accurate maps and addressing data required in the implantation of Enhanced 911.  In addition, GeoComm offers dispatch mapping software, Automatic Vehicle Location Solutions, wireless phase 1 and 2 call plotting and public safety consulting.

Dalton Police Looking For Group of Theft Suspects

Dalton Police detectives are looking for a group of suspects wanted for two separate thefts.  The first theft occurred at Hamilton Medical Center on April 25th.  Just before midnight, $1,500.00 was stolen out of a Coke machine and a money changer.  Three white male suspects in their early 20s are shown on surveillance footage.  Also shown on surveillance is a white female in her early 20s who assisted the male suspects.  It is believed the suspects used keys to open the machines.

The same male suspects are also wanted for a theft at Laundry King on MLK Jr. Boulevard on April 26th.  At this location, the suspects broke into a Coke machine and detergent dispenser.  Approximately $50.00 in change was stolen from the Coke machine and approximately $20.00 worth of laundry detergent was taken.  The three male suspects were captured by surveillance cameras.  At this location, the suspects also used keys to open the machines.

If anyone has information about these four suspects, pleas call detective Jason Bishop at 706-278-9085 extension 214.

Suspects shown at laundromat

Suspects shown at hospital

Female suspect shown at hospital

Citizens Police Academy: Week 10

Members of the Citizens Police Academy met Tuesday night for their tenth week of classes.  Academy participants learned about our school resource officers and the service they provide to Dalton Middle School and Dalton High School.  Members of the Citizens Police Academy also learned about criminal procedure.

School Resource Officer Terry Smith speaks to members of the academy

Citizens Police Academy participants

Family Fun Day

The Dalton Police Department took part in Family Fun Day at St. Mark's Preschool on Tuesday.  The end of the year celebration gave the school's children a chance to learn about the police department and get a first hand look inside a patrol car.  The Dalton Fire Department also attended the Family Fun Day.

Children from St. Mark's Preschool lined up to look inside a patrol car

Officer David Saylors a group of children from St. Mark's Preschool

Explorer Cards On Sale

The Dalton Police Department's Explorer Cards are currently on sale.  The discount cards can be used at 22 local restaurants and businesses.  The discounts range from buy one, get one free to 10% off of entire purchases.  You can purchase the cards for $5 at the Dalton Police Services Center at 301 Jones Street.  The cards are good through March 31, 2009 and all proceeds go to benefit the Dalton Police Department's Explorer Program.

Local Parents Learn About Internet Safety

Parents and their children gathered at First Presbyterian Church this week to learn about Internet safety.  Dalton Police officer Sam Eaton spoke to the group about safe Internet usage and some of the hidden dangers children can face while on line.

It is important for parents to take an active role in protecting children from Internet predators.  Here are a few tips that can help:

• Become computer literate and learn how to block objectionable material
• Keep the computer in a common area, not in individual bedrooms, where you can watch and monitor your child
• Share an email account with your child so you can monitor messages
• Bookmark your child's favorite web sites for easy access
• Spend time together on line to teach your child appropriate on line behavior
• Forbid your child from entering private chat rooms; block them with safety features provided by your Internet service provider or with special filtering software
• Take your child seriously if he or she reports an uncomfortable on line exchange
• Forward copies of obscene or threatening messages your child receives to your Internet service provider

Officer Sam Eaton speaks to parents and children about Internet safety

Online Alerting & Mapping Service Launched

The Dalton Police Department and CrimeReports.com have announced a new online crime alerting and mapping service that provided easy to read incident crime maps and automated alerts to the citizens of Dalton.  The service, located at http://www.crimereports.com/ or directly from http://www.daltonpdblog.org/, provides neighborhood crime data in near real-time and is available now.

The CrimeReports service is free to the public and allows citizens to receive automatic daily, weekly or monthly email alerts if/when crimes occur near their home, office, local school, etc.  Citizens can also view reported crime activity on an easy to use map for any location within city of Dalton boundaries.  Crime incident data is updated nightly and includes:

• Incident type
• Date
• Location
• Distance from citizen's address
• Event identification/case number
• Brief crime incident description

"CrimeReports.com will prove particularly valuable to those in the community who want to say informed about what is going on in their neighborhoods and empower citizens to work with the police department to address neighborhood crime issues." said Chief Jason Parker.

Citizens Police Academy: Week 9

Members of the Citizens Police Academy met Tuesday night for their ninth week of classes.  Academy participants got a chance to work with the Firearms Training Simulator (FATS).  The FATS system is used by officers for training purposes.  It is an interactive system that enables officers to make "shoot - don't shoot" decisions in a controlled training environment.  It allows officers the opportunity to practice their verbal direction, use of cover, weapon handling and observation skills.

Officer Chris McDonald explains the FATS system to an academy participant

An academy participants takes part in a FATS training scenario