Albany, Dougherty police departments address area church members
Staff Photo: Alan Mauldin
By Alan Mauldin
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ALBANY — Members of an east Albany church congregation got to ask questions of Albany and Dougherty County’s top law enforcement officers Tuesday, and topics covered included school speed cameras, the desire for more frequent patrols and thefts at the host church.
Law enforcement is a frequent target of complaints, which was very much the case with the speed cameras, but events like the Tuesday session at Victory of Albany are a good way to hear community concerns, Albany Police Chief Michael Persley said.
“We’re human,” he said. “I always want to hear how we can do things better. As police officers, we’re going to deal with people who have challenges. Nobody calls us and says ‘Hey, have a nice day.’”
The COVID-19 pandemic brought about a number of challenges, with officers retiring while there was not the usual pipeline to replace them, Persley said. As a result of the pandemic, the chief said, the department has turned more to technology.
Some of that technology includes the speed cameras, surveillance cameras being placed in some locations and a gunshot detection system.
“To have more coverage, we have to use the technology,” he said. “We could get a full allotment of officers if we got 30 a year for five years. That’s hiring and retaining. In five years, I’d be fully staffed.”
The speed cameras have both fans and detractors, the chief said, but they have started to have the desired impact, which is motivating drivers to slow down, especially in school zones.
When several students were hit by a car, one of them fatally, several years ago, “that kind of shook the conscience of the community,” Persley said. “We had been getting complaints (that) people on Oakridge are speeding like crazy and you need to do something to slow them down.”
Since the cameras were unrolled at several public school campuses, the initial high volume of violations has decreased, he said, and it appears that drivers are slowing down even during times schools are not in session.
The cameras enforce the 25 miles per hour speed limit before, during and after the school day, and at times school limits are not in effect, they also enforce the regular posted speed limit where they are located.
The money collected can only be used for public safety purchases, and one of the first projects initiated using the money was a $600,000 allocation to improve the visibility of warning signs in school zones.
“If I’m going to be criticized because I care about the children in the community, I’ll take it,” Persley said.
Thefts have been an issue at the Sylvester Road location, Dennis Eckles, a pastor at the church said, including several catalytic converters, church vans and a trailer.
Dougherty County Assistant Police Chief Tatashea Irving, filling in for Chief Kenneth Johnson, said that the department is in the process of placing more cameras capable of reading license plates in the area. In the event of thefts, the cameras will help identify cars seen in the area during the time they occur and help officers make arrests.
Persley suggested having a mechanic install a sleeve on catalytic converters to make them more difficult to remove and also painting them a specific color so that in the event of a theft, area recyclers can spot them when a thief brings them in for sale.
Another topic addressed by the Albany chief is the proliferation of motorcycle and dirt bike riders who drive recklessly on city and county roadways.
“This fad with riding four-wheelers and dirt bikes, this is the thing they want to do,” he said. “It seems like the more we do, the worse they get. They’re that defiant. Why do they do it? I don’t know. The biggest thing is how do we change their mindset.”
Over the last several years, several riders have been seriously injured and two have died, the chief said.
In overall terms of creating a safer community, Persley suggested that churches and other organizations band together to work on community projects. Completing small projects can make a big difference, he said.
Education is another big key, the chief said, and making sure that students are reading on grade level at grade eight would have a huge impact on improving the community.
“We can rebuild Albany,” he said. “I’m an optimist. We’ve got to work to bring the good in the Good Life City, but it’s going to take a while.
“That crowd between 18 and 35 you need in the pews, those are the ones we are trying to get off the streets. Those are the people we need in the work force. That’s our future, and those folks are killing themselves off. Wherever you feel you are led, together, do what you need to do to make things better.”
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