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:
What Progress Looks Like When a Community Works Together
Sometimes progress is quiet. It shows up not in headlines, but in fewer emergencies, calmer nights, and officers who have more time to focus on prevention instead of reaction.
That is where Brookhaven is right now.
Behind the scenes, we are seeing signs that the way we work together is making a difference. Officers are spending more time being proactive. Residents are experiencing fewer moments that require urgent response. And decisions are increasingly guided by data, not guesswork.
This did not happen overnight. It reflects consistent effort, thoughtful use of technology, and strong partnership between the department, City leadership, and the people who call Brookhaven home.
In the weeks ahead, we will share more through our annual report and an upcoming City Council presentation. This issue offers a preview, with a closer look at the technology that helps officers see situations more clearly, respond more safely, and stay focused on prevention.
Because when progress is built on trust, transparency, and shared responsibility, it belongs to the whole community.
– Brookhaven Police Department
How Technology Supports Prevention, not Just Response
When people hear “police technology,” it can sound distant or abstract. But in Brookhaven, these tools are not about replacing human judgment. They are about giving officers better information, earlier insight, and more time to focus on prevention.
Technology helps officers see situations more clearly before they arrive, understand patterns over time, and deploy resources where they can make the biggest difference. It supports safer responses, smarter decisions, and fewer moments that escalate into emergencies.
Here, we are sharing a preview of how technology fits into our day-to-day work and the role it plays in the progress we are seeing across the city.
The video below offers a snapshot of that work. It shows how data, tools, and people come together with one goal in mind: working in partnership with the community to keep Brookhaven safe.
Community Spotlight: Learning How Public Safety Really Works, Together
One of the most meaningful partnerships we have is built not on technology, but on understanding.
The Brookhaven Citizens Police Academy invites residents to step inside the day-to-day realities of policing in Brookhaven. Participants spend several weeks learning directly from officers about how decisions are made, how calls are handled, and how tools, training, and policies all come together in real situations.
Graduates often tell us the same thing. They leave with a deeper appreciation for the complexity of the work, a clearer understanding of why transparency matters, and a stronger sense of shared responsibility for safety in their neighborhoods.
As we talk more this year about data, technology, and proactive policing, programs like the Citizens Police Academy remain just as important. They create space for conversation, questions, and trust. They turn numbers and tools into context and relationships.
Community safety works best when residents are informed, engaged, and part of the process, not just observers of it.
If you have ever wondered how policing works beyond what you see on the surface, this program is one of the most powerful ways to learn and connect.
The invitation is open and you can sign up today. English Citizen Police Academy starts March 18th and Spanish Citizen Police Academy starts March 19th.
We look forward to seeing you soon. Visit the link above or email [email protected] for more information.
Crime Prevention - Security Awareness in a Connected Community
Crime prevention today is as much about awareness as it is about response. Technology plays a role long before a call for service is ever made.
One example is knowing where security cameras exist in a neighborhood. When residents choose to register their cameras through Operation Plugged In, officers are not watching live footage or monitoring homes. Instead, they know where cameras may be available if an incident occurs. That awareness helps investigators move faster, ask the right questions, and reduce the time it takes to resolve a case.
Online responsibility is another part of modern security. Sharing information quickly can help neighbors stay alert, but how and where information is shared matters. Posting real-time details about vacations, routines, or security features can unintentionally create opportunities for crime. Choosing to share thoughtfully, especially after a situation has passed, helps protect both households and neighbors.
Technology also works best when information flows both ways. Residents who report suspicious activity early, share relevant footage when requested, and stay engaged through trusted channels help create a clearer picture of what is happening across the city.
The takeaway is simple. Cameras, platforms, and data are tools. Their real power comes from informed use, shared awareness, and a community that understands how small choices can prevent bigger problems.
Prevention starts with knowing how technology fits into everyday life and using it with care.
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]
Special Olympics Polar Plunge
Dates: February 21, 2026
Time: 11am
Location: Acworth Beach
Join our team and help support Special Olympic athletes using this link https://charity.pledgeit.org/t/os5m7u0rgd
Citizen Police Academy
Dates: March 18 - May 20, 2026 (English) and March 19 - May 21, 2026 (Spanish)
Time: 7-9pm
Location: Brookhaven Police Dept. 1793 Briarwood Rd NE
Ever wondered what it actually takes to keep Brookhaven safe? Now is your chance to go behind the scenes with the Brookhaven Police Department!
Applications are officially open for the 2026 Citizens Police Academy!
This free, 10-week program gives you an inside look at: ✅ Criminal Investigations ✅ Use of Force ✅ Patrol Functions ✅ Police Technology ✅ 911 Communications & more!
Whether you want to learn more about how your department works or just want to become a better-informed neighbor, this program is for you.
📅 When: Starts March 2026 (Classes held weekly from 7 PM – 9 PM)
📍 Where: Brookhaven Police Department
👥 Who: Residents/business owners 21+
💰 Cost: FREE!
Don't wait—applications are due by March 9th!
👉 Apply here: https://www.brookhavenga.gov/468/Citizens-Police-Academy
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.
Brookhaven Strong
Staying connected in a changing world
A strong community adapts. As technology changes how we live, work, and communicate, Brookhaven continues to show that connection matters just as much as innovation.
Technology gives us new ways to stay informed, check in on one another, and respond when something does not feel right. But the strength comes from how people choose to use those tools. Neighbors who share information responsibly. Residents who look out for one another online and offline. Community members who stay engaged, curious, and willing to learn.
Public safety is no longer confined to a single place or moment. It lives in neighborhood conversations, digital spaces, and everyday decisions. When residents and public safety professionals stay connected through trust and shared purpose, the entire city becomes more resilient.
Brookhaven’s strength has always been its people. Technology simply gives us more ways to show up for one another.
Engage with Us
Have a Question? We’ve Got Answers!
Q: Are officers watching private cameras or monitoring residents through technology?
A: No. Technology used in Brookhaven is designed to support awareness and response, not surveillance of daily life.
When residents choose to participate in safety programs or share information, it is always voluntary and purpose-driven. Officers do not have live access to private cameras, and technology is not used to track routine activity. Information is only reviewed when there is a legitimate public safety need, such as investigating a specific incident.
Just as important, technology does not replace human judgment. Every decision still relies on trained officers, clear policies, and accountability. Tools provide context, but people make the calls.
We know trust depends on transparency. That is why we continue to explain not just what tools are used, but how and why they are used, and where the boundaries are.
If you ever have questions about technology, data, or privacy, we encourage you to ask. An informed community is a safer community.
Got a question? Submit it here, and we might feature it in the next issue!