Dalton Police Blog

Dalton Police Officers Graduate from Instructor Training Course

Four officers with the Dalton Police Department recently completed instructor training at the Northwest Georgia Regional Police Academy. 

Officers Steve Zahn, Michael Bowen, Jamie Johnson, and Alan Woods will use the knowledge gained in this class, along with their law enforcement experiences, to teach other officers in the law enforcment community.

As part of the class, officers must prepare and present a one hour lecture to group of seasoned veteran instructors.  The officers are given a week break between the first and second week to write and prepare for this presentation.  The failure rate for this class was approximately 30%.

Police Catch Suspects in Armed Robbery

At approximately 5:53 a.m. this morning, Dalton police officers responded to an armed robbery call at the Sonic Resturant on 2702 Airport Road.  Once on the scene, officers began a search for the suspects.  One suspect, Tracy McKevie, a 30 year old black male of Dalton was located a short distance away on Walnut Avenue.  The second suspect, Clifford Robinson, a 32 year black male of Chattanooga, Tennessee was arrestted later at a residence in Dalton.

Both suspects had entered the resturant at around 5:45 a.m.  One suspect had a pistol, later identified as an "Air Soft" BB gun.  Both suspects were wearing masks to conceal their identity.

An altercation between one of the suspects and the manager of the Sonic occured just prior to suspects fleeing the area.

Tracy McKevie (left) and Clifford Robinson.  Both men were arrested by Dalton Police Officers within hours of committing an Armed Robbery at the Sonic resturant on Airport Road

Dalton Police Officers Participate in Annual In-Service Training

Every year officers with the Dalton Police Department participate in two days of in-service training.  The training is taught at the Police Services Center by Georgia Peace Officers Standards and Training Council certified instructors or, in some cases, members outside the department, including the District Attorney's Office.

During this training, officers receive updates on such topics as vehicle pursuits, non-lethal weapons, CPR and community oriented policing.

All sworn police officers in Georgia are required to receive a minimum of 20 hours of training each year to maintain their arrest powers with two hours devoted to firearms.

Sergeant Mike Wilson demonstrates techniques for handling a 12-gauge shotgun designed to use a non-lethal "bean bag" projectile.

Dalton Police Department Implements Drug and Crime Tip Hot Line

The Police Department has introduced a Drug and Crime Tip Hot line.  Anyone with information about current or past cases as well as potential drug or criminal activity now has the ability to pass this information on to the police department at anytime day or night 24 hours a day.

The Tip Line can be reached by dialing 706-278-9085 extension 221.  The caller will receive a brief message that will outline what information is needed.

The person's call will be answered by an automated voice mail system and will allow the individual to give information in an anonymous manner.  Or, the person can give his or her name and phone number if they wish to be contacted at a later time by an officer.

Callers can leave as much information as they wish but specific details such as a suspect or victim's name, vehicle type, tag numbers, names or residence information will be helpful in investigating the crime.  In addition to the information above, information about drug activity and the type of drug being used or sold is very important.

Halloween Safety Tips

Halloween is just around the corner.  This is a good time to remind everyone about some safety tips to ensure a safe and fun trick-or-treat.

General Safety Tips:

• Try and get kids to trick-or-treat while it is still light out.  If it is dark, make sure a couple of people are carrying flashlights that work
• Have your children wear light colored and/or some type of reflective clothing.  Chemical lights are also a good idea
• Map out a safe route for them to take.  Remind them not to take short cuts through backyards, alleys, or other areas
• Older kids should go out with friends.  Younger kids should always be accompanied by an adult and if in rural areas, a car should be used to transport the children
• Remind children to never enter a strange house or car

Costume Tips:

• Encourage kids to wear comfortable shoes
• Keep costumes short to prevent tripping or falls
• Make sure costumes are flame-retardant to reduce dangers from candles or open flame
• Try make-up instead of a mask.  Masks can obstruct a child's vision - a dangerous thing when kids are crossing the street or going up and down steps

Eating Treats:

• Remind your children to not eat their treats until they get home  Feeding them a meal or substantial snack before they go trick-or-treat will help keep them from eating the treats
• Eat only unopened candies and other treats that are in their original wrappers.  Parents should inspect fruit or homemade goodies for anything suspicious

Halloween tips for the Adults:

• Welcome trick-or-treaters at home by turning on your exterior lights
• Remove objects from your yard that might present a hazard to visitors
• Mobilize your neighborhood watch members to help monitor and patrol the neighborhood
• Drive slowly all evening.  Children can dart out in front of you at any time
• If you see criminal activity or anything suspicious, call the Police Department or Sheriff's Office

Dalton Officer Participates in 5K Road Race

Officer Michael Hughes recently participated in a 5K road race in Carrollton, Georgia.  Officer Hughes finished in 118th place out of approximately 700 runners. 

Officer Hughes became an officer for the police department in April of 2003.  He is currently assigned to the Patrol Division as a Patrol Officer.

Officers are encouraged to maintain a basic level of physical fitness readiness and are required to participate yearly in a department wide Physical Fitness Assessment.

Officer Hughes

Identy Theft and Fraud: Part III

What should you do if your identity has been stolen?  Take the following four steps immediately:

1. Call the toll-free fraud number on any one of the three major credit bureaus to place a fraud alert on your credit report.  Once one receives your alert, the other two will be automatically notified.  All three will also send you a free credit report.  The three major ones are Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion.  When you get the reports, review them thoroughly.  Look for inquires you didn't initiate, accounts you didn't open, and reconcile all open accounts to verify that you opened them.  Also, verify that your name, address, SSN, and employment are correct.  And remember to continue to check your credit report at least every 6 months for fraud.
2. Close any accounts that have been tampered with or opened fraudulently.  If opening new accounts, be sure to use a different Personal Identification Number (PIN) and passwords.  If there are fraudulent charges, inform the company about what has happened and ask for the company's fraud dispute form.  If checks are stolen, contact the bank to close the account immediately.
3. File a report with your local Law Enforcement agency.  Be sure to keep a copy of the report and the report number.  This may be required to validate your claims to a creditor.
4. File a complaint with the Federal Trade Commission (FTC).  This will provide valuable information that can help law enforcement officials track down and stop identity thieves.

Identity Theft and Fraud: Part II

Steps you can take to reduce your chances of being a victim:

• Place passwords on your credit card, bank and phone accounts
• Avoid using easily available information like your mother's maiden name, birth date, the last four digits of your SSN or phone number, or consecutive numbers like "1234".  When you are asked for your mother's maiden name on a new account, use a password instead
• Secure personal information in your home especially if you have roommates, employ outside help, or you're having service work done in your home
• Buy a paper shredder for your home, and then use it to destroy all discarded documents that contain any of your personal information such as credit card solicitation and bank statements
• At least once a year, obtain a free credit report from one of the major credit reporting agencies.  In Georgia, you are allowed one per year at no charge.  Check this report for open accounts to verify that none have been opened without your knowledge

Other steps you can take:

• Don't give out personal information on the phone, through the Internet, or through the mail unless you've initiated the contact or you are sure who you're dealing with
• Know that Identity thieves can be very skilled liars.  Before you divulge any personal information, confirm that you're dealing with a legitimate representative of a legitimate organization
• Be a guardian of your mail - Deposit outgoing mail in post office collection boxes or at your local post office instead of an unsecured mailbox.  If you are going to be away from home for awhile, have someone (you trust) collect your mail or call the postal service and ask for a vacation hold until you return
• Give out your SSN only when it is absolutely necessary.  If you have your SSN on your current driver's license, contact the department of motor vehicles to have it substituted for a state issued number
• Limit the identification information and the number of credit and debit cards that you carry to what you actually need
• Create a list of all credit cards and bank accounts.  Also include contact numbers for each of these so you can quickly notify them in the event of a theft.  Remember, thieves will generally use your credit cards immediately following the theft before you have time to cancel them.

In part III, we will deal with what you should do once you've determined that your property or identity has been stolen.

   

Police Officer Speaks to School Children About What Police Officers Do

Officer Chris McDonald recently spoke to a group of four and five year olds at Brookwood Elementary School about what police officers do.

According to Officer McDonald, "this an excellent opportunity for the kids to meet an officer and ask questions about our job.  They are always very excited especially when they get to climb into the patrol car".

"Goodies" including pencils, rulers, and badge stickers were given away.

"We covered what to do in case of an emercency and how to contact the police or fire department", McDonald said.

Officer McDonald calling on one of the students who had a question

Identity Theft and Fraud: Part I

According to United States Postal Service, Identity Theft is America's fastest growing crime with approximately 10 million victims last year at a cost of about $5 billion.  The actual number is probably much higher since law enforcement agencies may classify crimes differently.

Identity theft or fraud refers to all crimes where someone wrongfully obtains and uses another's personal information in a deceptive way.  This typically involves a monetary loss for the victim.

Once this information is obtained, money can be stolen from a persons banking account, or include other financial loss.  And in more severe cases, actually taking over someone's identity to incur vast amounts of debt and committing crimes under the victims identity.

Common ways criminals obtain your information:

• By physically stealing your personal information through a burglary or theft or your wallet or purse
• Listening in on your conversation in a public place when you are using your credit card or phone card
• Stealing your mail
• Pose as a legitimate business person or government official asking for your personal information
• Practice "dumpster diving" where they rummage through your trash or the trash of businesses
• Through the Internet when unsuspecting persons respond to unsolicited e-mails requesting identifying data

Once this information is obtained, the thieves use it by:

• Going on a spending spree using your credit or debit card account numbers.  They will generally change the mailing address on the card.  This gives them more time to run up the amount of your credit card before you find out.
• Opening a new credit card account using your name, date of birth, and Social Security Number.
• Using your information to take out auto loans, establish wireless phone service, obtain counterfeit checks or debit cards, and even file for bankruptcy.
• Giving the police your name during an arrest.  When they don't show up for court, an arrest warrant will be issued for YOU!

Identifying if you have been a victim:

• Failing to receive bills or other mail.  This could signal an address change by the thief
• Receiving credit cards for which you did not apply
• Denial of credit for no apparent reason
• Receiving calls from debt collectors or companies about merchandise or services you didn't buy

In Part II of this series, we will discuss steps you can take to reduce your chances of being a victim of ID theft and fraud