Dunwoody Top Cop: Crime Will Rise as Development Increases

(Image: Dunwoody Patch)

DUNWOODY, GA -- Crime will rise and the demands on police will increase as Dunwoody continues growing, according to Police Chief Billy Grogan.

“Although Dunwoody is a safe community, our proximity to I-285 & GA400 combined with our bustling perimeter area and our almost 10,000 apartments contribute greatly to the challenges we face today and in the future,” Grogan said in a report that was given to the city council during a recent retreat.

While crimes such as murder and aggravated assault (known as Part 1 crime) fell by more than 4 percent in 2015, Grogan said crimes against persons increased 35 percent. Grogan also said that despite the decline, there were 2,125 Part 1 crimes in Dunwoody in 2015, which is the second highest total since Dunwoody became a city.

As the city grows, Grogan says, so will the number of calls and crimes.

“Two new hotels are expected to add over 300 calls for service per year,” he said. “As the phases of the State Farm complex are completed and employees are moved from their current location to their new campus, the space vacated will be leased adding thousands of people and vehicles to Dunwoody, which will increase the challenges for the department.

“In 2015, our calls for service were up 3.9 percent,” he said.

Grogan wants the city hire a police service representative; permit technician; a prisoner transport officer and a community outreach officer in 2017, and also wants to add 11 patrol officers, two detectives and a sergeant over the next several years.

Grogan’s report to the city council can be found here.