Juanchella Francis sent this note out to the Decatur community this morning…

Dear Decatur Colleagues and Community Members,

It has been a joy working in the capacity of Community Relations Specialist for the last 16 years. Though a tremendous amount of work was done; many lasting friendships were developed and I will miss all of you. With that said, it is time for me to move on. I have been blessed with an opportunity to work in an area I am most passionate about and “called” to do. So, though saddened to leave my colleagues and so many others, I’m excited about the new opportunity to explore all of the dimensions this next position will offer me.

Effective Sunday, August 29, 2010, please direct all community related issues or concerns to Deputy Chief Lee. He can be contacted via email at keith.lee@decaturga.com or by telephone at 678-553-6620.

Sincerely,

Juanchella G. Francis, PhD

All the best to Dr. Francis, who has always been enormously helpful in providing us with information on crimes in the city in a very timely manner.  We should never underestimate the value of an extremely communicative Police Department.

This sounds cool.  From Decatur PD’s Juanchella Francis…

The Decatur Police Department will host its first “JUNIOR POLICE ACADEMY” during the week of June 28 – July 1, 2010. This program is designed to educate and enlighten young people about the functions and duties of their police department. Participants will participate in fun and educational exercises designed to simulate real law enforcement activities. Lunch and refreshments will be provided to participants each day and participants who successfully complete the academy will receive certificates of completion and a class t-shirt.

Your browser may not support display of this image. The class will be limited to 12 participants and further is limited to City of Decatur residents who have completed the 7th or 8th grade during the 2009-2010 school year. Applications can be obtained at either the Decatur Police Department or Renfroe Middle School. Applications must be submitted to the Decatur Police Department no later than June 4, 2010 at 5:00 pm. For further information or if you have any questions, please contact Deputy Chief Keith Lee at 678 553-6620.

Didn’t send in your 2010 Census form?  Census workers are gonna come a knockin’.

From Decatur PD’s Juanchella Francis…

This email is sent to inform you that the U.S. Census Bureau will have census takers working in your jurisdiction as part of our Non-Response Follow Up operation.

For a period of 6 to 8 weeks, beginning on May 1, 2010, census takers will visit households that did not complete and return the census questionnaires that were to their residences. This Non-Response Follow-up operation will ensure that everyone in your jurisdiction is counted in the 2010 Census.

• · Census takers are your neighbors (people from your community), hired by the Census Bureau, to go door-to-door and collect census information from residents who have not returned their 2010 Census forms.
• · Census takers will contact residences up to 6 times, each time leaving a door hanger. The door hanger will have a phone number (404-239-2160) on it so that residents can call to schedule a visit and be counted.
• · Census takers visiting households will have a black census bag as well as a 2 1/8” X 3 3/8” non-photo identification badge. (See attached)

From Decatur PD’s Juanchella Francis…

On Monday, April 5, 2010, Decatur police officers arrested Aaron Lee Walker for (4) burglaries that occurred between December 2009 and February 2010, in the Winnona Park, McDonough, Adams & Kings Highway neighborhoods. Mr. Walker admitted involvement in additional burglaries, in the area, during the same time period.

They aren’t even open yet and according to the December Crime Report put out by the city, Zucca Pizza had a flat-screen TV stolen last month!

Summarizing the report, there were 24 burglaries in the city during the month of December. The southwest zone experienced the most with nine, followed by “northwest” (which I believe includes most of downtown) with six. I don’t know if its any consolation, but only 10 of those 24 burglaries were deemed “forced entry” according to the email.

The detailed list of each burglary can be found after the break. If you’d like to receive this data every month too, email Juanchella Francis at Decatur PD to get on the email distribution list. Juanchella.Francis[at]decaturga.com Read the rest of this entry »