Each month when I sit down to write this column, I realize how great the citizens of our community are. This week, we had a robbery occur in the parking lot of the Kroger store on Ga. Highway 138. Members of the community witnessed what happened. As soon as our officers arrived on the scene, the witnesses began flagging the officers down and giving them information as well as vehicle descriptions about the perpetrators of the crime. This information assisted us in locating the suspects and arresting them without incident. This type of community support enhances our ability to combat crime within Conyers.

I would like to ask the members of the community to continue to support our efforts and be good witnesses. Continuously working together will build a strong community and send a message to criminals that they need to go somewhere else because they are not wanted in the city of Conyers.

Rockdale County Schools will be in session beginning Monday, July 30. I would like to remind everyone to watch out for the students who are walking to school and crossing the roadways. The speed limit for the school zones is 25 miles per hour. These limits will be strictly enforced throughout the school year.

Students need to make sure that they keep their property within their sight at all times. If students are participating in activities that will take their attention away from their property, they will need to secure the items in available lockers. It is recommended that parents keep a list of serial numbers and descriptions for all electronic items that students may carry to school with them. Students who are able to drive are reminded to not leave valuables in their cars. However, if students need to secure their items in their vehicles, they need to make sure that they are placed out of sight and the doors are locked.

When I first came to the Conyers Police Department, one of the main goals that was set for the department was to achieve accreditation through the Commission on Accreditation for Law Enforcement Agencies, Inc. Over the course of the last year, we have been working diligently by updating our policies and gathering documentation to demonstrate that we meet the 480 standards that have been set by CALEA. Each standard is represented by a file that contains documentation proving that we are meeting the standard. This past week, we mailed off 376 of these files for off-site review by the assessors who will be auditing our process and reporting on our progress. These assessors will arrive at the police department on August 14, in order to review the remaining 104 files, conduct interviews with employees and community members and observe our daily operations.

If you would like more information on the process, please contact Lt. Tanya Yvette Young Perry at Tanya.perry@conyersga.gov or at (770) 785-6684.

In closing, I want to extend my congratulations and appreciation to Johnny Beaucher for five years of service with the city of Conyers.