Dalton Police Blog

Zero Tolerance: Increased Patrols Set for New Year's Eve

The Dalton Police Department’s Traffic Enforcement Unit, Situational Response Unit and Patrol Division will be concentrating their efforts to fight drunk driving during the upcoming New Year’s Eve celebration.  Concentrated patrols and random road checks will be conducted throughout the city at strategic locations in an effort to crackdown on motorists driving under the influence of alcohol and drugs. 

Motorists who drive with a 0.08 BAC are 11 times more likely to be killed when involved in a crash than a sober driver.  Motorists should also know that 0.08 BAC is the presumed legal limit in Georgia, but a driver can be charged at lower levels if he or she is determined to be a less safe driver.  The Dalton Police Department asks that anyone planning to party should also plan to have a designated driver, or be prepared to go to jail. There will be no warnings or excuses.

The Dalton Police Department would like to remind motorists that drunk driving is not the only killer on our roadways.  The department asks that motorist watch their speed and please obey Georgia’s Safety Belt laws, to help prevent injuries and fatalities.

OVER THE LIMIT, UNDER ARREST.

VIDEO: Citizens' Police Academy

The Dalton Police Department is still accepting applications for the 17th Citizens' Police Academy which will begin in February 2009.  To apply, just click on the Citizens' Police Academy link on the left side of the Dalton Police Blog screen under "Links" and fill out the information form.

To learn more about the Citizens' Academy from some of our former students, click "play" in the window below (video may take a few moments to load).

Dalton Police Share Holiday Meal

The Dalton Police Department held its annual Holiday Luncheon this afternoon at the Police Services Center, giving officers, employees, and their families a chance to share some time and a meal together.  The lunch, catered by the Filling Station, was served in the main hall of the Police Services building.

Below: Officers and their families at the Police Department's Holiday Luncheon (click thumbnails for a larger version of the image)

       

Dalton Police Announce Operation: Zero Tolerance

The Dalton Police Department will take part in the nationwide Operation Zero Tolerance beginning December 19, 2008 through January 4, 2009.   Operation Zero Tolerance is a nationwide mobilization of law enforcement agencies to combat drivers driving under the influence of alcohol and drugs.

The Dalton Police Department’s Traffic Enforcement Unit, Situational Response Unit and Patrol Division will be concentrating their efforts on fighting drunk driving during the campaign and the upcoming holiday season.  Concentrated patrols and random road checks will be conducted throughout the city at strategic locations in an effort to crackdown on motorists driving under the influence of alcohol and drugs.  This is the last nationwide traffic mobilization of the year and is held annually during the Christmas Holiday.  Crash data from the Governor’s Office of Highway Safety shows that the deadliest period of time of the year on Georgia's highways runs from Thanksgiving through New Years Day. 

Last year, 992 people died during the month of December across the nation.  In 2007, Georgia recorded 18 traffic deaths, 1,158 injuries and 3,039 crashes during the 102-hour Christmas Holiday travel period.  Eight of the 18 deaths last year involved a driver impaired by alcohol or drugs.  This year, the Crash Reporting Unit of the Georgia Department of Transportation is estimating 19 traffic deaths, 1,494 injuries and 2,945 traffic crashes during the same period.  The Christmas Holiday travel period will begin at 6:00 PM on Wednesday, December 24th and end at midnight Sunday, December 28th.

The Dalton Police Department would like to remind motorist that drunk driving is not the only killer on our roadways.  The department asks that motorist watch their speed and please obey Georgia’s Safety Belt laws, to help prevent injuries and fatalities.

OPERATION: ZERO TOLERANCE. OVER THE LIMIT, UNDER ARREST

Police Seek Information on Vending Machine Break-Ins

The Dalton Police Department is seeking information about a man who broke into a vending machine at Turbo Tire at 401 South Hamilton Street on December 13th.  The same man may have also broken into other vending machines in the area, including a theft that occurred the same night at the Bearden Laundry, 101 West Gordon Street, which is approximately 3 blocks away.

At approximately 4:00 AM, the surveillance cameras at Turbo Tire recorded a black SUV, possibly a Dodge Durango with stock wheels and a white sticker on the back windshield pull up to a drink vending machine in the parking lot.  A white male wearing a coat with a hood and a baseball cap got out and walked up to the machine, and then looked up at the camera.  The man then got back into the SUV and the vehicle backed out of view of the camera.  Then someone moved the camera so it pointed away from vending machine.  The machine was then broken into.  Approximately 5 dollars was taken.

In the incident on Gordon Street, someone cut the metal bar and padlock off of a drink machine located outside of the Bearden Laundry, possibly with a bolt cutter.  The machine was broken into, with an unknown amount of money stolen.

The images below were captured by the surveillance cameras at Turbo Tire of the suspect and suspect vehicle.  If you have any information on these crimes, please contact Detective Matthew Locke with the Dalton Police Department, 706-278-9085 extension 320.

The images below were captured by the surveillance system at Turbo Tire on Hamilton Street.  The suspect vehicle appears to be a Dodge Durango with stock wheels and a sticker on the back windshield (Click on thumbnails for a larger version of the image).

       

New Officers Confirmed at PSC Meeting

New Dalton Police Officers Aaron Simpson and Patrick Lee were both officially confirmed at Tuesday's meeting of the Dalton Public Safety Commission.  It puts an official end to their hiring process.  Both officers have been on the job since graduating on December 5th from the Northwest Georgia Regional Police Academy.  Both officers are currently continuing their training on the road with Dalton officers.

Also at Tuesday's meeting, the Public Safety Commission approved a recommendation from Chief Jason Parker to purchase three new Ford Crown Victorias for use as police cruisers.  Brooker Ford submitted the low bid to the sell the three vehicles to the department for $66,204.

Chief Parker also showed off some new hardware to the members of the PSC.  The Police Department won a special award at the December 5th Silver Bell Sprint road race in Dalton for being the government organization with the most members participating.  Chief Parker showed off the trophy.

Below: Chief Parker shows off the trophy from the Silver Bell Sprint (click the thumbnail below for a larger version of the image)

Public Safety Commission Chairman Lane Ashworth made a special presentation of a plaque honoring former Dalton Fire Chief Barry Gober for his 30 years of service of the Fire Department.  Gober retired on November 14th.

Below: Interim Fire Chief Bruce Satterfield, Retired Chief Barry Gober, and PSC Chairman Lane Ashworth (click the thumbnail below for a larger version of the image)

 

It was the final PSC meeting for Ashworth, who has served on the commission for 11 years.  His appointment comes to an end at the end of the year.

Below: Lane Ashworth conducts business during his final Public Safety Commission meeting (click the thumbnail below for a larger version of the image)

VIDEO: Shop With a Cop

Here's some video from Saturday's "Shop With a Cop" charity event.  Officers from the Dalton Police Department took time out on Saturday to shop for Christmas presents with 20 kids selected by the GreenHouse child advocacy center.  The kids used $100 gift cards paid for with money raised by donations from the public and also the officers themselves.  This was the first "Shop With a Cop" event for the departement, but there's already talk of doing another one next year.

Click play in the window below to watch video (video may take a moment to load)

"Shop With a Cop" Gives Kids a Happy Holiday

Saturday morning, Dalton Police officers volunteered to give up more than two hours of their free time to help some kids shop for Christmas presents.  Dalton's first "Shop With a Cop" event brought together 20 kids selected by the GreenHouse child advocacy center, and officers from the Dalton Police Department.  The officers helped guide the children through the K-Mart on Cleveland Highway with $100 gift cards, which were paid for by donated funds raised by the Dalton Police Department.  K-Mart also chipped in, generously giving the kids 10% off of most of the items.

Video games, basketballs, camouflage camping gear, and action figures were among the purchases loading down officers' shopping carts once they finally led the kids to the checkout counters.  In several cases, the kids seemed more interested in buying gifts for family members than picking up toys for themselves.  Either way, everyone left with a smile on their face.

From there, the kids and officers went to the Kroger next door, where the deli provided a free lunch of deli sandwiches, chips, and cookies. 

The Dalton Police Department thanks everybody who donated either money or time to our "Shop With a Cop" effort, and also the chaplains' Toy Drive for the GreenHouse held last week.

Below: Dalton Police officers shop for toys with kids from the GreenHouse (click thumbnails for a larger version of the image)

   

Dalton Police Seek Well-Traveled Thief

The Dalton Police Department is looking for information on a man who stole wallets from two employees’ purses in the OBGYN ward at Hamilton Medical Center on November 5th.  The suspect then used the credit cards to make fraudulent purchases in Dalton, then Fort Oglethorpe, then Calhoun, and finally Cartersville.

The suspect is an African-American male, wearing a white button down shirt with a black vest.  The images below were taken by the surveillance system at the CVS store in Calhoun.

Anyone with information on this crime or the man’s identity is asked to contact Detective Jason Bishop with the Dalton Police Department at 706-278-9085, extension 214.

   

Dalton Police Donate Toys, Money to GreenHouse Kids

Kids at the GreenHouse child advocacy center in Dalton will have some cool new toys to play with this Christmas. Last week, the Dalton Police Department's chaplains collected enough toys for the kids at the GreenHouse to overflow the over-sized collection box.  And, in recent weeks, officers have donated and raised funds totaling $2,200 which will also go to the Christmas present fund for GreenHouse kids. 

This afternoon at the Police Services Center, the Dalton Police chaplains and Chief Jason Parker presented the check and the toys to GreenHouse director Christi Hoffmeyer. 

This weekend, on Saturday, the department will host a "Shop With a Cop" event for 20 kids selected by the GreenHouse.  Each child will be given a $100 gift card, paid for with funds raised by Dalton Police officers.  The child will then be able to go into the K-Mart on Cleveland Highway to purchase gifts for family members and themselves.  K-Mart also generously agreed to give the children a discount on their items so they can stretch their gift cards even further.

The Dalton Police Department thanks everyone who donated or helped with the Toy Drive or the Shop With a Cop efforts.

Below: Dalton Police personnel present checks for $2,200 to the GreenHouse (from L to R: Dalton Police Chief Jason Parker, Chaplain Thomas McCrainie, Chaplain Don Treick, GreenHouse Director Christi Hoffmeyer, GreenHouse Board President Mike Key)

A large box overflowing with donated toys for children at the GreenHouse