Bridging the Gap, One Conversation at a Time

Coffee, connection, and community-powered safety in Brookhaven.

Author

Community Engagement
July 21, 2025 • Estimated Reading Time: 12 minutes

Welcome to the Brookhaven Community Pulse. Your weekly guide to staying informed, safe and connected with our community.

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In this week's issue:

More Coffee, More Connection

Last week’s Coffee with a Cop at Dunkin' Donuts was a blast! We had incredible conversations, plenty of laughs, and of course some good coffee.

After posting a poll on Facebook and Instagram, we heard you loud and clear: you want more chances to connect and so do we.

Starting now, we'll be hosting Coffee with a Cop events at different locations and at different times. It’s all about making space for real conversations, meaningful connection, and stronger neighborhoods.

Business Owners: Want to host the next Coffee with a Cop?
We’d love to partner with you. If interested please reach out to our Community Engagement Team at [email protected].

Let’s keep building trust one cup at a time.

Community Heroes: Officer of the Quarter

This quarter, we’re proud to recognize Officer R. Orange as our Officer of the 2nd Quarter for 2025!

Officer Orange continues to lead with professionalism, integrity, and a deep commitment to our mission of public safety. Whether it’s mentoring fellow officers or going above and beyond in the field, his dedication does not go unnoticed.

Please join us in celebrating Officer Orange not just for his outstanding work this quarter, but for the example he sets every day in our department and throughout the Brookhaven community.

Well done, Ofc. Orange we’re proud to serve alongside you!

Traffic Safety Tips: Drive Right on Dresden

Have you ever rounded a curve on Dresden and suddenly been face-to-face with headlights in your lane? It’s a heart-stopping moment and exactly why the updated speed limits and double-yellow line rules are in place.

Here’s what we’ve noticed:
Most Brookhaven drivers are doing the right thing, adjusting to the safer pace. But some are getting a little too creative and dangerous by crossing into oncoming traffic to get around slower drivers. Not only is this illegal, it’s downright risky.

Here’s why it matters:

  • 🚫 Solid yellow lines = no passing. Ever.

  • ⏱ Saving 20 seconds won’t beat the next red light.

  • 🛡 You’re protecting cyclists, joggers, buses and yourself.

Let’s keep it safe and simple:
Set your alarm 5 minutes earlier, respect the lines, and cruise through Dresden like the good Brookhaven neighbor you are.

Together, we can prevent accidents, reduce stress, and protect our community.

If you see something, say something. Your call could make all the difference. For emergencies, always dial 911.

Brookhaven Police Department

Community Events

If you are interested in volunteering or would like Brookhaven Police to join one of your events or engagements, please feel free to contact us at [email protected]

Coffee With a Cop

📍 Chick-fil-A | 4046 Peachtree Rd
🗓 Thursday, July 24 | 🕛 12:00 PM

We’re bringing conversations to the community one cup at a time!

Join the Brookhaven Police Department for Coffee With a Cop at Chick-fil-A. This is your chance to meet officers in a relaxed, friendly environment, no speeches, no agenda, just connection.

Whether you have a question, a concern, or just want to say hello—we’d love to see you there.

Bring a friend and pull up a chair. Let’s talk, Brookhaven!

National Night Out – Back to School Bash

📆 Tuesday, August 5, 2025
🕕 6:00 PM – 9:00 PM
📍 Briarwood Recreation Center
2235 Briarwood Way, Brookhaven, GA 30329

Brookhaven it’s time to bring the energy, the unity, and the community spirit!

Join us for a vibrant evening at our National Night Out: Back to School Bash, where fun meets purpose. Designed for all ages, this free event is a celebration of neighborhood connection and public safety, just in time for the new school year.

🎶 Live DJ + Music
🎒 Free Back-to-School Supplies
💈 Haircuts & Hairstyles for Students
👟 Teen Summit Resources
🚒 Touch-a-Truck & Emergency Vehicle Displays
🏀 Games, Vendors, Food & Family Fun

This celebration is made possible by our incredible partners:
Dream Teens Community Foundation, Lynwood Park Foundation, Brookhaven Police Department, Brookhaven Parks and Recreation, and Honors Sports Academy.

Bring the kids. Bring your neighbors. And bring your community pride.
Let’s show what Brookhaven is made of: strong neighborhoods and powerful partnerships.

Hot Pursuit 5K Glow Run – Let’s Light Up the Greenway

📆 Saturday, August 23, 2025
📍 Peachtree Creek Greenway | 1793 Briarwood Rd, Brookhaven, GA
🕗 Race Start: 8:00 PM

Brookhaven’s favorite glow-up event is back bigger, brighter, and on the beautiful Peachtree Creek Greenway!

Join the Brookhaven Police Department for the Hot Pursuit 5K Glow Run, where runners, walkers, families, and supporters come together for a night of fitness, fun, and purpose. This event features a certified 5K course, a 1-mile Fun Run, and a Tot Trot for our youngest racers.

Proceeds support our Shop with a Badge program bringing holiday joy to local children and building bridges between officers and the community we serve.

All participants receive a glow shirt and race swag
Stay for the music, lights, and post-race fun
Register early to guarantee your shirt size!

Run with us. Glow with us. Make a difference.

Brookhaven Police Teen Academy

📆 July 28 – August 1, 2025
🕘 Daily | 9:00 AM – 3:00 PM
📍 Brookhaven Police Department

Calling all future leaders Brookhaven Teen Academy is here!

This free, five-day course is open to teens ages 13–19 and offers a behind-the-scenes look at the daily operations of the Brookhaven Police Department. From patrol and investigations to K-9 and SWAT demos, participants will gain a deeper understanding of the role officers play in keeping our community safe.

Each day includes both instructional learning and hands-on activities, giving students the chance to ask questions, explore scenarios, and even experience the challenges officers face on duty.

Whether you’re curious about law enforcement or just want a powerful, eye-opening summer experience this academy delivers.

🎯 Space is limited, secure your spot today by completing this form!

Resources and Programs

Resources

  • Brookhaven Alert powered by Smart911 is the official emergency notification system used by the City of Brookhaven to communicate with residents during emergencies.

  • If you are a Brookhaven resident and you leave for home for an extended period of time you can sign up for our Residential Checks.

  • We are committed to providing a safe and secure environment for our residents and business. One way we do that is by providing free security assessments to our residents and local businesses.

  • If you have a traffic complaint, we are here to listen.

  • The City of Brookhaven Offers Brookhaven Connect, a free smart phone app for citizens to report problems like potholes, code violations or sidewalk issues.

Programs

  • The Brookhaven Citizen Police Academy is designed to provide community members with an overview of how their local Police Department works.

  • Citizens on Patrol (COPs) is a community policing program sponsored by the Brookhaven Police Department.

  • The Brookhaven Police Department’s “Operation Plugged In” is a police/community video partnership that operates on a voluntary basis with the homeowners, neighborhoods & business owners who own private video security systems that record public areas such as roads, parking lots and sidewalks.

  • Learn more about our unmanned aerial systems (UAS) unit and view their flight history.

Download our Brookhaven Police App to stay in the know while you are on the go.

Crime Prevention: Protect Your Wallet—Digitally

Let’s focus on BANKING safety this week.

We lock our front doors why not our financial info?

Strong passwords matter. Use a combination of letters, numbers, and symbols, and avoid anything that’s easy to guess (like your birthday, pet’s name, or street address).
Update them often. A good rule: change them every 60–90 days.
Don’t reuse passwords across apps or sites. If one account is compromised, others could follow.

If you wouldn’t hand your debit card to a stranger and say, “Keep it safe,” then don’t hand them the digital keys either. Take a moment today to check your banking passwords and tighten up your security.

Want more banking safety tips? Follow us on Facebook and Instagram as we launch our Banking Safety Series this week. You’ll get practical, easy-to-apply guidance to protect what matters most.

Brookhaven Strong

Rooted in Connection

What makes Brookhaven strong isn’t just our parks, programs, or patrols…it’s people. The real strength of a city shows up when neighbors wave, officers listen, and community partners lean in to help.

Whether it’s chatting at Coffee with a Cop, celebrating at National Night Out, or simply sharing a safety tip with a friend every connection builds trust.

So let’s keep showing up. Keep speaking up. And keep choosing connection over distance. Because when we connect, we grow. And when we grow, Brookhaven thrives.

Engage with Us

Have a Question? We’ve Got Answers!
This section answers questions submitted by our community. Here’s one we received recently:

Q: I need a copy of a police report or other records, how do I submit an open records request to Brookhaven Police Department?

A: Great question! The Brookhaven Police Department makes it easy to request records online.

To submit your request, simply visit our Open Records Request page. From there, you can fill out the online form with details about the report or document you’re requesting.

Please keep in mind:

  • Response times may vary depending on the nature of the request.

  • Be as specific as possible to help us process your request quickly.

  • Fees may apply for processing and producing certain records.

Need help or have questions? Contact the Records Division directly using the information listed on the request page.

Transparency matters and we’re here to help.

Got a question? Submit it here, and we might feature it in the next issue!

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