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

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If this week had a theme it was service and BPD showed up for it in a big way.

Earlier in the week our team partnered with Associated Credit Union to speak directly with their customers about fraud and fraud prevention, arming everyday people with the knowledge they need to protect themselves and their finances. Then we closed out the week doing what Brookhaven does best, showing up for a great cause. Our Cops on Donut Shops event for the Special Olympics brought the community together in the best way possible, and the results spoke for themselves. Two very different moments, one consistent message: this department is here to serve.

Every single day you wake up with something powerful in your hands, a choice.

A choice to engage or ignore. A choice to give or hold back. A choice to show up or stay home. A choice to be aware or remain distracted. Life moves fast and it is easy to go through the motions, but the truth is that the choices we make, even the small ones, shape the kind of community we live in.

This week, we watched Brookhaven make incredible choices. Residents chose to stop by Dunkin' and drop money in a bucket for athletes who needed their support. Professionals chose to sit down and learn about fraud so they could protect their families. Officers chose to stand outside all morning with big smiles and even bigger hearts.

None of that was required. All of it was chosen.

As we head into summer, we want to encourage every resident to keep choosing connection over convenience, awareness over assumption, and community over comfort. Those choices add up and they add up to something beautiful here in Brookhaven.

You have a choice. Keep choosing this community..

– Brookhaven Police Department

Summer means pool time and pool time means one non-negotiable rule: active supervision, always.

Drowning is one of the leading causes of accidental death in children, and the most heartbreaking part is that it is largely preventable. It happens fast, it happens quietly, and it can happen in as little as one inch of water. That means bathtubs, kiddie pools, buckets, and puddles are just as important to monitor as the deep end of a pool.

Here is what active supervision really means:

Additional tips to keep swimmers safe:

For more swimming safety resources visit the American Red Cross at redcross.org.

No caption, no conversation, no notification is worth more than a child's life. Eyes on the water.

Last Friday was one for the books. The weather was perfect, the energy was great, and Brookhaven did exactly what Brookhaven always does, showed up when it counted.

Our Cops on Donut Shops event at Dunkin' was an incredible success, and we are so proud to share that together, this community raised $5,449.74 for the Georgia Special Olympics. Every single dollar came from the generosity of residents, commuters, drive-through customers, and online donors who didn't have to give, but did anyway. That's the Brookhaven difference.

To everyone who stopped by, honked from the drive-through, dropped something in the bucket, or donated online, thank you. You showed our Special Olympics athletes that this community sees them, supports them, and is cheering for them loudly.

To our officers and volunteers who stood outside all morning with buckets and big smiles, thank you for representing this department.

Our Georgia Special Olympics family truly appreciates each and every one of you and so do we.

Summer vacation season is here and while you are busy planning the fun, we want to make sure you are also planning the safe. A little preparation before you leave goes a long way in protecting your home while you are away.

Before you head out, work through this checklist:

Step 1: Ask a Neighbor to Keep Watch A trusted neighbor is one of your best security assets. Let them know you are leaving, share your contact information, and ask them to keep an eye on things. Better yet, give them a key for emergencies.

Step 2: Request a Residential Security Check Did you know BPD offers this? While you are away, you can request officers to check on your home. Submit your request here and let us help keep your home safe.

Step 3: Double Check Everything Windows. Doors. The garage. Your car. Go through every single entry point before you leave. It takes five minutes and it could save you thousands.

Step 4: Stop All Deliveries Mail, newspapers, prescriptions, packages, anything that piles up outside screams "nobody's home." Put a hold on mail through USPS, pause any subscriptions, and make sure no deliveries arrive while you are away.

Step 5: Handle Trash and Yard Maintenance An overflowing trash can or an unmowed lawn is a signal that no one is around. Ask a neighbor to bring in your bins, arrange for lawn care, and make sure your home looks lived in.

Step 6: Use Timers on Indoor Lights Lights that never change are a giveaway. Set timers on lamps in different rooms to create the appearance of activity inside your home throughout the day and evening.

Step 7: Secure or Remove Anything That Could Aid a Break-In Ladders, tools, outdoor furniture, anything that could be used to access your home should be locked away or stored before you leave.

Step 8: Don't Overshare on Social Media We know those beach photos are calling your name, but wait until you are home to post them. Broadcasting your vacation in real time tells the wrong people exactly when your house is empty. The photos will be just as beautiful when you return.

Step 9: Check Your Smart Home Devices If you have a doorbell camera, security system, or smart locks, make sure everything is charged, updated, and functioning before you leave. Check in remotely while you are away for extra peace of mind.

Step 10: Trust Your Instincts If something doesn't feel right when you return — a door slightly open, a window that looks tampered with — do not go inside. Call 911 and let us check it out first.

Enjoy every moment of your summer vacation, Brookhaven. You deserve it. Just make sure your home is ready before you go.

A clean car is a safe car. Don't give criminals the opportunity.

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

There is something deeply important about rest. About disconnecting. About loading the car, hitting the road, and leaving the routine behind for a little while. Summer vacation is not a luxury, it is a necessity. And you have earned it.

But here is the thing about the people who love this community most, they never fully stop caring about it, even when they are away. They lock the door twice. They ask the neighbor to keep watch. They check the camera from the hotel room. Not out of fear, but out of love for what they have built here in Brookhaven.

That awareness, that quiet, consistent responsibility is what makes this city what it is. It is not just law enforcement's job to keep Brookhaven safe. It is all of ours. And the good news is that staying safe does not have to steal your joy. A few smart steps before you leave means you can sit on that beach, explore that city, or rest in those mountains without worry.

Go enjoy your summer, Brookhaven. Adventure well, rest deeply, and come back ready. We will be here — watching over this city while you recharge — just like we always are.

— The Brookhaven Police Department

Have a Question? We’ve Got Answers!

Did you know that the Brookhaven Police Department's Community Engagement Unit offers personal safety and women's self-defense classes for your workplace, organization, or specialty group?

Whether you are a business looking to empower your team, a nonprofit serving women in your community, a school organization, or any group that wants to feel safer and more confident, we will come to you.

These sessions are designed to be practical, accessible, and genuinely useful. No experience necessary. Just a willingness to learn and a desire to be prepared.

Interested in scheduling a class for your group?

Reach out to us at [email protected] and let's make it happen. Spots fill up, don't wait!

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

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