More police officers coming to DeKalb County

DEKALB COUNTY, Ga. — DeKalb County residents should expect to see more police in their neighborhoods.

On Tuesday, ranking DeKalb police officials told the county's commissioners the City of Brookhaven sparked the change.

Twenty-eight officers patrolled the area now known as Brookhaven. On July 31, the City of Brookhaven rolled out its own police force.

Those 28 officers will soon patrol other areas in unincorporated DeKalb County.

"I'm happy to hear it," said DeKalb County resident Martin Bryant.

DeKalb County Assistant Police Chief James Conroy told Channel 2's Erica Byfield the shakeup means there will be four police precincts instead of five.

"Our command staff all got together and decided that four precincts was the best concept to move forward," he said.

The officers who used to patrol the Brookhaven area will be moved to the communities where they are needed.

Officials plan to look at two factors prior to making the decision: number of 911 calls and crime in a given community.

"Our residents in DeKalb will absolutely have better service, you will see quicker response time and I think that you will see safer communities, that is our whole goal," said Interim DeKalb County CEO Lee May.

The officers should have their new assignments by Oct. 1. Until then, the officers will work special details.

WSBTV