Canine Cops - County Line Magazine

Johns Creek Police DepartmentOpens a South Sub-StationThe need to increase police visibility and provide added conveniencefor residents on the south side of Johns Creek, resultedin the opening of the Johns Creek Police Department’s sub-stationon April 30 th . Located at 3005 Old Alabama Rd in Unit 120, thesub-station is near the Newtown area of the city. This area is veryactive with events at Newtown Park, the Dream Dog Park, ParkPlace, and the Newton Community Clubhouse. “I’m proud thatour department has literally moved into the community in an effortto make it more convenient for our community and the policedepartment to come together,” said Mayor Mike Bodker.In addition to being more convenient for patrol officers workingon the south side of the city, the sub-station will also be utilizedas a training area, for victim and witness interviews, and for communitypresentations. Officers from the Community Services Departmentwill operate from the sub-station. “There’s a need formore officers in this area of the city,” said Officer Mark Johnsonof the Community Services Department. “I’m looking forward toriding my bike in neighborhoods and through parks and getting tomeet the residents and business owners in this area.”JCPD Chief Ed Densmore and Mayor Mike Bodkercut the ribbon to open the sub-station.Though the sub-station will not be open for public drop-in, thereis a call box next to the door for citizens to report problems orcall for assistance. The call box goes directly to dispatch, and anofficer will respond to the call.by Karen L. CopijaThe first annual “Breaking Dawn:A Walk for Hope” took placeon April 14 th at Windermere Park.The walk took place “at the breakof dawn” to symbolize bringing thetopic of suicide and mental illness“out of the whispers” and into thelight. Society still attaches a stigmato suicide, and it is largely misunderstood.While mourners usuallyreceive sympathy and compassion,the suicide survivor (the person leftbehind after a suicide), may encounterblame, judgment or exclusion.The walk is a way of bringing Survivorsof Suicide together. As I wastold after the loss of my 16-year-oldson, Kyle in 2006, “it’s a family younever want to be a part of. But, inthis family everyone has your back.”And that’s true. Sadly, we all knowthe shock associated with the lossby suicide and we are empathetic toeach other’s grief. We know we willnever “get over it,” but together wewill get through it.The walk started at 6:15am withapproximately 80 walkers, among200 lighted luminaries around thewalking track and into the woods.Around the track were informationalsigns with brief statistics aboutsuicide and depression. The SuicidePrevention Action Network-GA(SPAN-GA) Faces of Suicide quiltswere on display. These quilts are abeautiful, powerful testament thatsuicide does not discriminate. Itaffects blacks, whites, young, old,rich and poor. The walk ended at8am with a beautiful dove release.As of this writing, almost $6,000was raised and will stay here inGeorgia to help educate the public,provide events, and support friendsand families of those lost to suicide.For more information or to make adonation, visit: www.span-ga.org.Photo courtesy of Jane Gilbertson30CountyLine | June 2012 | www.CountyLineMagazine.net