Dalton Police Blog

Local Students Learn About Being A Police Officer

The Dalton Police Department took part in Dawnville Elementary's Career Day on September 28th.  Students were given the chance to ask questions about being a police officer and were educated about the duties of an officer.  The students also got a chance to look inside a Dalton Police Department patrol car and were reminded to always buckle up.

Officer Steve Zahn answers questions from a kindergarten class

  A group of students in the backseat of a patrol car

Officer Zahn with Mrs. Ellis' kindergarten class

Officers Sharpen Their Skills Through Real-Life Training Scenarios

As part of their continuing education and training, members of the Dalton Police Department are taking part in fast-paced training scenarios.  During the training, officers are engaged in realistic situations they would encounter on the street, including armed confrontations.  The Dalton Police Department trains with Simunitions, which are special cartridges that fire wax projectiles from handguns and mark targets much like paintballs.  This type of non-lethal ammunition allows officers to train for real-life situations.

Detective Matthew Locke takes part in a burglary scenario

Detective Barry Woods approaches a home during an alleged drug deal scenario

Instructors discuss the scenarios with officers

Known Gang Member In Custody

A known gang member wanted by the Safe Streets Task Force was taken into custody Monday, thanks to a call from a concerned citizen. Eric Sanchez was wanted for failure to appear in connection with a theft charge.  He was taken to the Whitfield County Jail.

Eric Sanchez

Undercover Drug Investigation Leads To Four Arrests

Drug Enforcement detectives conducted an undercover detail in East Dalton last week, resulting in four arrests.  The investigation was in response to citizen complaints of drug transactions in the area.  As part of the investigation on September 19th, an undercover officer posed as a street level drug dealer.  The four people arrested were attempting to buy drugs.  The Drug Enforcement Unit says it plans on more undercover operations in the future.

Citizens with drug information can report it anonymously by using the Dalton Police Department drug hotline at 706-278-9085 extension 221.

Dalton Police Looking For 7 Gang Members With Active Warrants

Police investigators with the Safe Streets Task Force are looking for 7 known gang members with active warrants.  These cases have been under investigation for as short as one month in the case of Carlos Barrios, to several months for the other suspects. The cases vary in location from Calhoun, Dalton, and Whitfield County.

Here are pictures of the suspects and their charges:

23-year old Carlos Barrios is wanted in connection with murder.  He is known to go by the alias Wilber Hernandez.

24-year old Celso Gomez is wanted in connection with possession of cocaine, giving false information and forgery charges.

18-year old Eric Sanchez is wanted for failure to appear in connection with a theft charge.

18-year old Jose Chavez Hernandez is wanted in connection with murder and 1st degree forgery charges.

20-year old Jose Trinidad Perez Fraire is wanted for felony probation violation in connection with weapons possession, DUI, driving with a suspended license and other traffic charges.

25-year old Sergio Hernandez Ortiz is wanted for DUI and other traffic charges.

18-year old Omar Olvera is wanted in connection with murder.

Anyone with information on the whereabouts of these gang members is asked to contact Detective Alan Woods with the police department at (706) 278-9085 extension 145.  Callers can also contact the department's crime tip HOTLINE at (706) 278-9085 extension 221 if they wish to leave an anonymous tip.

Department Says Goodbye To Two of Dalton's Finest

The Dalton Police Department held a retirement celebration for two long-time officers.  Charles "Charley" Mariney, Jr. and Charles "Chuck" Richards were honored Wednesday for their years of service and dedication to the department.  Mariney started with the department in 1979 and Richards started with the department in 1994.  They both worked in Patrol and the Criminal Investigations Division (CID).  Mariney received 11 letters of commendation during his time with the department, while Richards received the Department Award of Merit, Employee of the Month twice, Employee of the Year and 11 letters of commendation.

Pictured left to right:  Charles "Chuck" Richards & Charles "Charley" Mariney, Jr.

Dalton Police Department Places in Governor's Challenge

The Dalton Police Department recently attended the awards banquet for the Georgia Governor’s Challenge, where it placed second in the state for a Class 4 agency.  The Governor’s Challenge, which is sponsored by the Governor’s Office of Highway Safety (GOHS), is held annually at the Georgia International Convention Center in Atlanta. Over 700 officers from around the state attended the September 14th event.  This was the seventh year that the Governor’s Challenge has been held. The Dalton Police Department has placed in all seven events.

The Governor’s Challenge is an incentive program designed to award law enforcement agencies in their achievements for highway traffic law enforcement and educating the public on highway safety.  Areas that law enforcement agencies are judged on include, policies and procedures in place for its officers, training that officers receive annually on traffic related issues, officer recognition, public information and education, and enforcement activity during the year.

The department also placed 1st in the state overall in Underage Alcohol Prevention for its efforts in stopping the sale of alcohol to underage buyers, and the education of local students using the Fatal Vision program.

New Dalton Officers Graduate From Police Academy

Three new Dalton Police Officers received their badges and graduated from Basic Law Enforcement Training Class #063 of the Northwest Georgia Police Academy on Friday, September 14th.

The academy lasts approximately 10 weeks. Instruction during the academy includes classes on Georgia law and criminal procedures; search and seizure; patrol techniques; CPR/first aid; accident investigation; emergency driving techniques, and others. 

These officers will now enter the field training phase, monitored by an experienced training officer. If the officers complete the additional twelve (12) weeks of field training, they will be ready for solo patrol.

New officers with Assistant Chief Jason Parker

New Dalton officer Clifford E. Schane received the Academic Execellence and Leadership awards

Police Looking For Forgery Suspect

Dalton Police investigators are looking for a suspect in several forgery cases in Dalton and Whitfield County.  41-year old Pamela Phillips Olds is wanted for stealing checks out of mailboxes.  She then takes the account and routing numbers from those checks and produces counterfeit checks with a check writing software program.

Olds may be in the Tunnel Hill or Cleveland, TN areas. 

A picture of the suspect is shown below.  Anyone with information about this suspect is asked to call Detective Greg Bates with the police department at (706) 278-9085 extension 137.  Callers can also contact the department's crime tip HOTLINE at (706) 278-9085 extension 221 if they wish to leave an anonymous tip.

Pamela Phillips Olds

Officers Check & Install Numerous Car Seats

Dalton Police officers helped check and install child safety seats over the weekend.  State Fire Commissioner John Oxendine and former C.H.I.P.S. star Erik Estrada were onhand for the Dalton Safe Kids event held at K-Mart on Walnut Avenue. 

Free car seats were provided by 21st Century Insurance.  In addition to child seat safety, officers also provided bicycle safety and home safety information.