Take Action, Stay Safe: The Power of Speaking Up

From calling for help to preventing crime, this issue is all about how small actions can make a big impact in keeping Brookhaven safe.

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Community Engagement
January 27, 2025 • Estimated Reading Time: 11 minutes

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

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In this week's issue:

The Power of Community: Stronger Together

Brookhaven isn’t just a city—it’s a community. A place where neighbors look out for each other, businesses invest in safety, and residents work alongside law enforcement to create a stronger, safer, and more connected city.

A safe community isn’t built overnight, and it’s not just the responsibility of the police. Every person plays a role. Whether it’s reporting suspicious activity, securing your home, driving responsibly, or even just checking in on a neighbor, small actions add up to a big impact.

When we work together—residents, businesses, and law enforcement—we create a city where people feel safe, valued, and empowered. Let’s keep building Brookhaven Strong. 

How do you contribute to a safer community? Let us know your thoughts! #BrookhavenStrong

Officer Hawkins in Action with the Community

Community Heroes: Citizens Police Academy – Be Part of the Action!

Brookhaven Police Citizen Police Academy at City Council

This week, we’re shining the spotlight on YOU, our future Citizens Police Academy graduates! 🚔

The Brookhaven Citizens Police Academy is more than just a program—it’s an opportunity to step into the world of law enforcement, connect with officers, and gain hands-on experience in how we work to keep Brookhaven safe.

Why Join?
✅ Experience real police training scenarios
✅ Inside view of what officers face on patrol
✅ Learn about investigations, traffic enforcement, and more
✅ Build relationships with the officers who serve your community

📆 Starts March 5, 2024 | 📍 Brookhaven Police Department

This is your chance to go behind the scenes and be part of the teamwork, trust, and transparency that make Brookhaven stronger. Spaces are limited, so secure your spot today!

Brookhaven’s safety starts with community involvement—will you answer the call?

Safety Tips: Leash Your Dog – It’s the Law & It Protects Our Community

Brookhaven is committed to keeping our residents, children, and pets safe, and that starts with following leash laws in all public spaces.

Why is this so important?

  • Our dog park is located near a children’s playground, and unleashed dogs outside the designated area pose serious risks to kids, families, and other pets.

  • Even friendly, well-trained dogs can react unpredictably in unfamiliar situations.

  • A loose dog can cause accidental injuries or create an unsafe situation for children, joggers, and other pets.

The Law is Clear: Brookhaven’s Leash Laws

According to Brookhaven’s municipal code (Sec. 5-5):
✅ All dogs must be on a leash when in public spaces, including parks, trails, and neighborhoods.
✅ Dogs are only permitted off-leash in designated areas, such as the dog park.
✅ Owners are responsible for keeping their pets under control at all times.

Urgent Reminder: Protect Our Children

Brookhaven prides itself on keeping our youth safe. The children’s playground near the dog park is meant for families to enjoy, and loose dogs create unnecessary risks.

Do your part: Keep your dog on a leash unless you are inside a designated off-leash area. It’s not just a courtesy—it’s the law.

Thank you for being a responsible pet owner and helping us keep Brookhaven safe for everyone! 🐶💙 #BrookhavenStrong

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]

Special Olympics Polar Plunge
📆 Saturday, February 22nd | 12:00 PM
📍 Acworth Beach 4425 Beach St., Acworth, GA. 30101

Join us as we gear up for the Polar Plunge which is one of the biggest events in support of the Special Olympics, and we want YOU to be part of it! Join us for Freezin’ for a Reason with your Brookhaven Police department as we show our support for these amazing athletes.

Brookhaven Police Citizens Police Academy - Now Enrolling
📆 Wednesday, March 5th - May 7th | Every Wednesday at 7:00 PM
📍 Brookhaven Police Department

Ever wanted to see what it’s like to be a Brookhaven Police Officer? The Citizens Police Academy is your opportunity to learn firsthand about law enforcement operations, training, and community policing. Engage with officers, participate in hands-on activities, and gain a deeper understanding of how the Brookhaven Police Department serves the community.

🔹 Who can join? Brookhaven residents, business owners, and community members.
🔹 How to sign up? Spaces are limited—secure yours today!

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

In today’s world, social media spreads information fast—but when it comes to crime and emergencies, your first call should always be 911.

Why Calling 911 is More Effective Than Posting Online

📞 Immediate Response: Social media posts won’t alert officers in real time. Calling 911 ensures that help is dispatched as quickly as possible.

🚔 Accurate Information: Dispatchers will ask the right questions to get critical details and send the appropriate response.


📍 Correct Location Tracking: Emergency services can track your location more accurately than a social media post.


⚠️ Verified Reports: Sharing unconfirmed information online can spread misinformation and cause unnecessary panic.

What to Do Instead of Posting First

✅ Call 911 immediately for emergencies, suspicious activity, or crimes in progress. (911 is also used for non-emergencies in Brookhaven).
✅ After reporting, then consider posting to inform your neighbors—but always prioritize safety first.

Social media can spread awareness, but it won’t send help. If you see something, say something—to 911 first. Your call could save a life. #BrookhavenStrong

How This Helps Prevent Crime

When residents call 911 instead of just posting on social media, it allows officers to respond quickly, gather accurate details, and take action before a situation escalates.

🚔 Faster response times = better chances of stopping crime in progress.
👀 More reported incidents = better crime tracking and prevention strategies.
📊 Accurate reporting = law enforcement can allocate resources where they’re needed most.

Your call can make a difference in keeping Brookhaven safe. See something? Say something—to 911 first. #BrookhavenStrong

Brookhaven Strong

Courage isn’t just about big, heroic moments—it’s about the small decisions we make every day to do what’s right. It’s calling for help when you see something wrong, speaking up when your gut tells you to, and looking out for those around you.

A safe community isn’t built on silence—it’s built on action. Never hesitate to reach out, whether it’s reporting a crime, checking on a neighbor, or simply offering support to someone in need.

Brookhaven is stronger because of people like you who choose to act, not just watch. Keep looking out for one another—your courage could be someone else’s lifeline. #BrookhavenStrong #SeeSomethingSaySomething

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 just saw a car speeding and swerving dangerously. What should I do?”
A: If you witness a reckless or dangerous driver, call 911 immediately—especially if they are posing a risk to others.

What to do:
- Stay safe – Do not attempt to follow or confront the driver.
- Provide details – Give the dispatcher the location, direction of travel, vehicle description (make, model, color), and license plate if possible.
- Explain the behavior – Report if the driver is speeding, swerving, running red lights, or appearing impaired.
- Pull over safely – If making the call while driving, do so only when you can safely pull over.

What NOT to do:
- Do NOT post about it on social media instead of calling—it won’t get immediate action.
- Do NOT engage or try to stop the vehicle yourself.

Your report could prevent an accident and save lives. If you see reckless driving, call 911 first!

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

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