Friday, December 12, 2003
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Friday, December 12, 2003 |
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Council salutes police force By J. FRANK LYNCH Last Thursday’s meeting of the Peachtree City Council was described afterward as a “big group hug” by some attendees. Given the contentious mood that’s dominated city government in recent months, that assessment wasn’t far off the mark. The “feel good” council meeting of the year opened with a long and well-deserved salute to the city’s Police Department, which recently earned re-accreditation from the international board that evaluates the effectiveness of law enforcement agencies. With a packed audience listening and more than two dozen of Peachtree City’s sworn officers lining the back walls, Chief James Murray said he made it a goal of achieving certification for the force when hired in 1989, and the city became the 142nd in the nation to be recognized in 1992. Re-accreditation came in 1997 and again in 2000, but the 2003 award seemed especially sweet to Murray. “Even though it’s been 15 years since we first set down this road, there are still fewer than 500 departments around the country that are nationally accredited,” said Murray, who heaped praise on leadership in the department for maintaining the professionalism that has won the city such recognizition. Mayor Steve Brown, who accompanied Murray and City Manager Bernard McMullen to Colorado last month to witness the final re-accreditation hearing, said he counted 12 mentions of the word “excellent” when Peachtree City’s evaulation came before the panel. “It’s one thing to reach the level of accreditation, but it’s another to be told you are the very top, the best in the nation,” said Brown. Sharing the spotlight Dec. 4 were the 35 recent graduates of the Citizen’s Police Academy, a program unique to Peachtree City that puts normal citizens through the rigors of police training. “This is what community policing is all about,” said Murray of the program. In addition, Regions Bank in Peachtree City showed its appreciation to the department for always keeping an eye on their employees when ATMs have to be refilled or armored truck deliveries are made. When it came time to conduct official business, the good spirit didn’t subside. The council unanimously adopted a new city slogan and logo, describing it as “warm,” “relaxing” and “about time,” and without hestitation entered an amended intergovernmental agreement with the Airport Authority that will allow the agency to borrow more than $350,000 for improvements. Councilman Steve Rapson praised the authority and Chairman Cathy Nelmes for “always having a solid long-range plan in place and doing their homework.” In other business, Smokey Bones Barbecue and Sports Grill was granted its request for a liquor license, but not before Councilman Annie McMenamin took the opportunity to heap praise on the company for revitalizing the old Don Pablo’s restaurant instead of building a new one. “I’ve always been pleased when a company comes into town and refurbishes an old building,” said McMenamin. “And I’m a big fan of barbecue.” A company representative said the company has 55 restaurants nationwide, and all but five were opened in renovated spaces. The Peachtree City Smokey Bones opens March 3, 2004, he said.
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