BCN Supports Extra Resources for Zone 2

The Buckhead Council of Neighborhoods this week unanimously approved a motion supporting additional resources for the planned expansion of police Zone 2.

The BCN, representing 31 Buckhead neighborhoods, backed efforts by City Council members Howard Shook and Yolanda Adrean to add two detectives and an "umbrella" car to the extra manpower and equipment already allocated for the expansion of the zone, the largest in the city.

Under the APD's citywide beat redesign, which BCN members conceded is a "fait accompli," Zone 2 would grow from 36.1 to 39.5 square miles, increasing to 13 beats from 10. Under Police Chief George Turner's plan, Zone 2 would receive 15 new officers and three police cars. But Shook and Adrean are calling on Turner for more help.

District 7 representative Shook and District 8's Adrean say the two extra detectives are needed because Zone 2 is to take in Cheshire Bridge Road's Beat 601A . The beat contains several adult entertainment clubs, which Shook and Adrean say generate a high amount of crime. The extra "umbrella" car, giving the zone a total of three, would be used as needed throughout the zone.

The BCN also wants to the APD to assess the effectiveness of the beat redesign once it takes effect. The group  voted to ask the APD to give it monthly reports by beat on police manpower, workload and response time when the plan is in operation.

"This will say that we're going to stay on you to see whether or not the change is effective," said BCN member Roger Moister.

BCN Secretary Gordon Certain said that because of Zone 2's size, a police officer has to travel three times as far to answer a call as an officer in Zone 5, slowing down the response time.

In response to a request from Adrean for BCN members to show a presence at City Council meetings in support of proposed pension reform legislation, the board voted to gather information on the pension situation. The city is seeking to reduce the heavy budgetary burden from city pensions. The board voted to invite union representatives and city officials to its next meeting in April to present information.

The board also voted to meet with State Reps. Ed Lindsey (R-54th District) and Elly Dobbs (D-53rd District) of Buckhead to discuss several issues, including redistricting based on the 2010 Census.

The BCN wants redistricting legislation to give Buckhead its own unified state Senate district, as the community had in the past. At present, Buckhead is represented by Vincent Fort (D-39th District) and Horacena Tate (D-38th District), both of whom live outside Buckhead.

"We want our representative to live in our community and fight for us," BCN Chairman Jim King said.