There's no denying that 2013 was a tragic year for East Atlanta. In May, 27-year-old Henry Omar Reeves was gunned down on Metropolitan Avenue. A week later, resident Patrick Cotrona was fatally shot while walking to an EAV pub. In July, Charlese Brooks, mother of 10, including several foster children, was murdered in front of her family during a home invasion. The reaction was instant and powerful. The community held vigils, public discussions and planning meetings. The police department increased patrols. And just this week, as part of the continued fight against crime in the neighborhood, four new security cameras were added to the neighborhood's streets as part of the Atlanta Police Department's seven-year-old Operation Shield program. The new devices will send feeds to the Video Integration Center, where APD monitors more than 1,200 private and public cameras around the city with the help of "smart" analytical software. But are these measures too much?
Crime in Atlanta is at its lowest level in more than 30 years, dropping 30 percent between 2002 and 2012. Zone 6 includes the neighborhoods of East Atlanta, Grant Park, Poncey-Highlands, Candler Park, Cabbagetown, East Lake, Edgewood, Kirkwood, Glenwood Park, Inman Park, Old Fourth Ward, Ormewood Park, Reynoldstown, Sweet Auburn and Virginia Highlands. The 2014 stats for Zone 6 are encouraging, with a reduction in nearly every type of crime and zero homicides for the year. Whether it's the increased police presence, Neighborhood Watch programs or community involvement, something seems to be working.
· Atlanta under surveillance [Creative Loafing]
· East Atlanta Community Association [Newsletter]
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