|
To history
archive
Security Patrol History
For more information about the security patrol and the Public Safety/Security Patrol Committee click here.
The Morningside Security Patrol first went into service in November 1992. It took the previous 10 months for Committee members, the MLPA Board, and other volunteers to research and organize this vital service for the Morningside, Lenox Park, and Johnson Estates neighborhoods.
It began after Martha Curtis and husband Blair were burglarized. She organized a committee that included Donna Cunningham, Jennifer Fuller, Joe Hope, Mary Huntz, JoAnn Kearns, Harry Miller, Tom Murphy, Zac Pasmanick, Dr. Paul Sherlag, and Karen Varsha. Together, they explored similar initiatives in nearby neighborhoods such as Brookwood Hills, Inman Park, Collier Hills, Admore-28th St., Ansley Park, Garden Hills, Brookhaven, and Peachtree Battle.
Hours were spent gathering information and analyzing all aspects of organizing and running a neighborhood security service. Flyers were distributed in the neighborhood. Joe Hope and several volunteers held a telephone drive to enlist members. They used phone banks that Zac made available at his real estate office and using Martha's database of residents.
In October, Atlanta Police Officers Doug Little and Rick Vazquez offered to organize off-duty policemen from Zone 2. In November, the patrol, led by Officer Little, was on our streets with 8 off-duty officers, a motorcycle, and a cell phone. Later the off-duty Atlanta Police Department (APD) officers made their rounds in vehicles distinguished by magnetic signs.
Martha and Blair handled the administration of the Morningside Security Patrol (MSP) for 2 years. Then Judy Jameson, a past MLPA President, and her husband Cal, took over administrative duties. Later, Annette Beasley joined them to help with membership. Officer Little was succeeded by Officer Jeff Easter as our Lead Officer. Several years ago, Officer Easter was succeeded as Lead Officer by one of MSP's founding officers, Rick Vazquez, who remains with us today.
In the spring of 2001, Mike Carew and Bob Silvia became co-chairs of MLPA's Public Safety Committee. Mike is the liaison with MSP and Bob handles MSP membership services. Although Judy recently left the MLPA Board of Directors after many years of service, she and Annette Beasley remained as members of the Public Safety Committee. Judy retired from active MLPA service this Spring.
Today, MSP operates from an office donated by the Morningside Presbyterian Church at 1411 N. Morningside Drive. Members may contact the Patrol by phone and also leave requests for vacation security checks in a drop box located by Morningside Dr. entrance to the parking lot.
Two of our officers are part of the APD Motorcycle Squad and drive their Departmental motorcycles while on duty for MSP. The other officers, also off-duty Atlanta police, drive a specially marked car that Investigator Vazquez acquired earlier this year. On occasion they may drive their personal vehicles.
Currently, MSP's 12 officers provide about 64 hours of coverage weekly. About 60 per cent of that coverage falls between 6 PM and 6 AM. We would like to have coverage 24-7 but we need more members to increase the number of shifts or patrols. We need our current membership to talk up the services of both the MSP and the MLPA. We can't just leave it up to the folks next door if we want to maintain and improve the level of service we now have. As one of the founders remarked, "Intown living requires eternal vigilance." Morningside needs the Patrol if it is to remain one of Atlanta's low-crime areas.
To history archive
|
