Atlanta

Atlanta police adds bike patrol units in Zone 2

By WSBTV.com News Staff
By WSBTV.com News Staff

ATLANTA — Atlanta police are stepping things up a notch with more personal patrols to stop crime during the summer. They’re adding bike patrol units in Zone 2.

Reggie King has lived in Buckhead for eight years. He said that he moved here for the convenience of everything: “I moved here, because it was a live, work and play area. It’s one of the things that attracted me to this area.”

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But it’s no secret that Buckhead has seen its share of recent crime. Citywide, crime is up 8% this year.

King said it was great news to hear that Atlanta police are expanding their bike patrol units in Zone 2. “Man, I think it’s a great idea, like I was saying before, live, work and play. I love to walk around this area, I like to take walks, I like to take walks to all of the shopping centers around here, so increased bike patrols, makes it even better.”

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“We created it for the 211′s beats, which was Lindbergh Drive, Morosgo, City Markets area. We saw an increase in crime, in that area, and so we were looking for ways to reduce the crime in the area,” said Atlanta Police Major Ailen Mitchell.

Mitchell said that was why the police started the bike patrol unit and joined forces with MARTA police.

Channel 2′s Larry Spruill got a chance to ride with the bike patrol officers. He was able to follow them on a bike through Zone 2.

“Zone 2 is 28 square miles total. We go from Howell Mill Road to 75, to Chesterfield and Piedmont, to all of Buckhead. So it’s a large zone,” Mitchell said.

Spruill and the bike patrol officers started the bike route at Lenox Square Mall and rode to the Lindbergh area. Officers aren’t just focusing on Zone 2. Recently, Channel 2′s Larry Spruill had also told you about the new bike unit patrol in Zone 1.

Mitchell said these bike patrols are all a part of becoming more visible in the neighborhoods, and it’s working: “Last year, it led to a 30% reduction of crime in that area, so it’s very successful. The bikes were able to get into areas where cars could not.”

Recently, officers from the Zone 6 Crime Suppression Unit teamed up with APD’s Gang Unit to address issues in the 4th Ward and Edgewood Area. They arrested several people in Butler Park for drug offenses.

Meanwhile, King said a heavier police presence would bring about a safer neighborhood: “The more the better. The more bike patrols in this area, the more people would want to walk around.”

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