Southwest Atlanta Police Zone Now Four Beats

Southwest Atlanta's busy zone 4 is now split among four beats instead of two, as the Atlanta Police Department's beat redesign took effect Tuesday morning.

The beat redesign, launched at 3:00 am.

"The busy southwest quadrant of the zone that includes Greenbriar Mall is being split from two beats to four beats," said Atlanta Police Department spokesman Carlos Campos, in an announcement on Tuesday.

The department noted in 2010 that the workload for calls for service among Atlanta police officers varied greatly among the city’s six geographical zones, with some officers far busier than others.

As a result of the overall beat redesign, 12 new beats were added to the city, for a total of 78 beats. Some zones took on new territory, while others shrank the areas they cover.

Thus far this year, the department has hired 218 new officers. Last year, it hired 259.

Zone 4's headquarters are located at 1125 Cascade Avenue, (404) 756-1804.

Highlights Of APD's Beat Redesign:

Zone 1 (Northwest Atlanta): I-20 was once the dividing line between Zone 1 and Zone 4 in Southwest Atlanta. Now, beginning at I-20 and Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard going westbound, MLK will represent the new dividing line between the new zones, with Zone 1 taking everything north of MLK.

Zone 2 (Northeast Atlanta): Picking up the Cheshire Bridge Road corridor and the Morningside neighborhood, areas that once before belonged to Zone 2.

Zone 3 (Southeast Atlanta): Picking up the Thomasville area once again from Zone 6; losing Grant Park neighborhood to Zone 6.

Zone 4 (Southwest Atlanta): Busy southwest quadrant of the zone that includes Greenbriar Mall is being split from two beats to four beats.

Zone 5 (Downtown/Midtown Atlanta): Losing the Old Fourth Ward area to Zone 6.

Zone 6 (Southeast Atlanta): Picking up Grant Park from Zone 3 and Old Fourth Ward from Zone 5. Losing the Thomasville area to Zone 3.