Dalton Police Blog

Becoming a Police Officer: Application Process

The first step in becoming a police officer is the application process.  The application contains critical information we need to access the persons qualifications.  While the application itself is generic for all city employment positions, additional inserts for police officers are included that asks specific information concerning the persons background.  The information on the inserts will be reviewed to help determine if something in the person's background could eliminate them from consideration.  These inserts also give permission to the police department to access the applicant's criminal and driver's history information as well as the applicant's credit history.

All applications must be submitted to the City's Human Resources Department.  The application is then forwarded to the police department's recruiting officer, Kenneth Brooks. 

The applicant signs an agreement at the time the application is completed that they will attend a testing session at the police department within one month.  If not, their application is returned to human resources.  The testing session is held every Friday morning beginning promptly at 8:00 a.m. at the Police Services Center, 301 Jones Street in Dalton.  The initial testing consists of a written test and a psychological examination.  The written test will be mailed to an independent group for scoring.  If the candidate passes the written test, they will continue in the process.  If they fail the written the test, the application is returned to the City's Human Resources Department.  The applicant must then wait one year before they are eligible to re-apply

While the applicant completed the psychological examination, it will not be scored until much later in the process due to the high cost of processing this test.

66 Citations Issued During School Zone Operation

On January 10th, officers from the Special Operations Unit along with members of the Situational Response Unit conducted a 4 hour operation targeting the school zones on W. Waugh Street around Dalton High School and E. Waugh Street around Roan Street School.

During that 4 hours, a total of 66 citations were issued  with the breakdown as follows:

• 58 - Speeding
• 2 - Child not properly restrained
• 1- Adult seatbelt violation
• 1 - Improper lane change
• 4 - Making a left turn (Posted)

The Special Operations Unit plans to conduct more operations in and around school zones for speeding and other moving violations during the month of January.

Motorists are being asked to buckle-up and obey all traffic laws including the speed limit especially around the school zones.

What It Takes To Become A Dalton Police Officer

This is the first in a series of segments on becoming a Police Officer with the City of Dalton.  The first segment will be an overview of the entire hiring process.  Future segments will go into greater detail for each stage.

1. Application
2. Polygraph Examination
3. Written Examination
4. Physical Fitness Assessment
5. Structured Oral Interview
6. P.O.S.T. Entrance Exam
7. Psychological Examination
8. Background Investigation
9. Interview with the Chief of Police
10. Medical Physical Examination
11. Approval by the Public Safety Commission

It's important to remember that the above steps are required just to be hired.  There are many more hurdles that a cadet must go through to finally wear the badge and become a police officer.

Dalton Police Department to Target Speed Violations in School Zones

During the month of January, the Dalton Police Department's Special Operations Unit with the help of the Special Response Unit will target motorists exceeding the school zone speed limit in the areas of Dalton High School and Roan Street School.  After the lengthy holiday season for the Dalton City School System, motorist can become lax in the compliance of school zone speed limits.  This operation is an effort to make school zones safe for students in the area as well as vehicular traffic dropping off or picking up students.

The Dalton Police Department would like to remind motorist traveling in the area of Dalton High School that the posted speed limit from 7:00 am to 9:00 am and 2:00 pm to 4:00 pm, Monday thru Friday, is set at 30 miles per hour in the school zone.  The school zone is in the area of Manly Drive and Waugh Street in the vicinity of the school.  Motorist traveling in the area of Roan Street School are reminded that the posted speed limit from 7:30 am to 8:30 am and 2:30 pm to 3:30 pm, Monday thru Friday, is set at 25 miles per hour on Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard.  The school zone runs from just west of Grimes Street to just east of Grade Street.  Yellow flashing lights designating the school zones are present at both locations.

The Dalton Police Department would also like to remind motorist to take special precautions around all schools within the city, obeying all traffic laws and to buckle up.

If you have any questions, please contact Officer Steve Zahn at (706) 278-9085 extension 124 or by email at szahn@cityofdalton-ga.gov.

Police Department to Host Public Forum on Gangs

GANGS IN DALTON...IS YOUR CHILD INVOLVED?

The Dalton Police Department is set to launch the first of a series of public information forums.  The first informational topic will cover Gangs in our city.

The session will be geared toward educating the public, particularly parents, on:

• How to recognize if their child is participating in a gang
• Steps they can take to minimize their child from becoming gang member
• How to recognize gang activity in their neighborhood
• Proactive steps citizens can take to reduce and eliminate gang activity in our community

The session is scheduled for February 6th, from 6:00 p.m. - 8:00 p.m.  There will be an extensive question and answer session following a brief lecture by police personnel.

The forum will be held at City Hall located at 300 W. Waugh Street in Dalton.

All participants are being asked to contact Louise Martin with the Police Department at 706-278-9085 extension 330 if they are interested in attending so that the appropriate amount of handouts can be assembled

For specific questions regarding the session, feel free to contact Officer Chris McDonald at 706-278-9085 extension 177 or by email at cmcdonald@cityofdalton-ga.gov.

Dalton Police Convert to Digital Video Cameras

The Dalton Police Department has begun the conversion of all patrol vehicle cameras from VHS to a digital format. This state of the art conversion represents the department's continued quest to provide officers with the most efficient tools.

The department first began using video cameras to record officer's actions in 1989, using a very large, dash-mounted camera. By the mid-nineties, all patrol vehicles were equipped with the VHS-format equipment. Although that technology has evolved considerably, the moving parts and video tapes are extremely sensitive to temperature and moisture fluctuations. In the early days of video use, officers were apprehensive that their actions would be scrutinized closely. In reality, patrol vehicle videos have overwhelmingly confirmed officer's actions to be proper and just in the vast majority of cases.

In addition to atmospheric sensitivity, VHS cameras only capture images after the "record" function is activated. Digital camera systems still require the officer to activate the record function, but they capture up to two minutes of prior images. This is possible because the cameras use temporary memory to constantly store video. When the officer activates the system, all memory is dumped, except the two minutes prior to activation. The unit then permanently writes the images to a DVD-R.

The police department began conversion to the digital video cameras in 2001. The change has meant that audio and video quality has increased exponentially, thus officers' court presentations have more clarity. In addition, officer's patrol cameras have captured some traffic accidents, and several traffic violations; all before the officer even activates the system. Instead of explaining a traffic violation to a judge or jury, the officer may be capable of showing the video. this capability was impossible with VHS, unless the officer continuously recorded every action. Altogether, the department will be using the digital video equipment in fifty-seven (57) patrol vehicles, including twenty-eight (28) systems that were recently purchased.

Police Searching for Suspect in Attempted Armed Robbery

Dalton Police Investigators are looking for a suspect who attempted to rob the Taco Bell on 1242 Cleveland Highway.  The robbery occurred at approximately 8:20 p.m. on January 1st, 2007. 

The suspect pulled up to the drive thru window, pulled out a knife and demanded money.  The employee quickly shut the drive thru window and locked it.  The suspect left the area in a small yellow pick-up truck.

The suspect is described as a white male, approximately 20-25 years of age, light brown wavy hair with blue or green eyes.

Investigators are reviewing a surveillance tape to aid in the identification of the suspect.  Anyone with information about this crime is asked to contact Detective Greg Bates at 706-278-9085 extension 137.

Persons wishing to remain anonymous can call the department's Crime Tip Hot-Line at 706-278-9085 extension 221.

Joshua's Law - A New Law affecting Teenage Drivers

The Dalton Police Department would like to remind teenagers that will be seeking to get their Class D Georgia's Driver's License and their parents/guardian of a new law that went into effect on January 1st, 2007.  The new law is referred to as Joshua's Law and was named after Joshua Brown from Cartersville, Georgia who was killed in a vehicle accident.

The new law requires that all 16-year-olds applying for a Class D driver's license must complete an approved 30 hour driver education course and complete a total of 40 hours of supervised driving, 6 hours which must be at night.  A parent or guardian will have to give sworn verification that the driving requirements have been met.

If a teen does not complete an approved driver education course and the 40 hours of supervised driving, they must wait until the age of 17 to apply for a Class D driver's license.  The applicant will still be required to complete the 40 hours of supervised driving including the 6 hours at night.

There are several web sites that teenage applicants and parents/guardians can go to get more details about Joshua's Law.  These web sites also list public and private schools that offer the driver education classes.  For more information, got to www.dds.ga.gov or www.joshuabrownfoundation.org.

For questions concerning this announcement, please contact Officer Steve Zahn at (706) 278-9085 extension 124.

Georgia Man Killed by New Year's Gunfire

Recently, Dalton police officials cautioned local residents against the dangers of firing guns into the air during New Year's celebrations. Although no serious injuries happened in Dalton, a 52-year old Austell man was not so lucky. He was killed two minutes after midnight by gunfire from a 17-year old relative. Apparently, the residents went to their backyard to fire off a few shots. After it was over, the man was dead.

For the Atlanta Journal Story, click here.

New Cadets Qualify with Duty Pistols

As part of the one-week orientation that all new cadets go through, about 3 days are spent training with their issued duty pistol, the Sig P229..  In the police academy's 400 hour basic mandate police class, the cadets will spend 1 week shooting, and eventually qualifying, with their pistol.  In order to graduate from the police academy, all cadets must pass firearms week. 

"We spend approximately 3 days with them on firearms related material during orientation to prepare them for firearms week at the academy", says Officer Chris McDonald, one of the department's firearms instructors.

Once the cadet graduates the academy, they will be required to pass a department firearms qualification on a yearly basis.