Country singer/songwriter volunteers to perform at local police ball

by Gale Horton Gay

There's a saying about asking and receiving, however, sometimes one doesn't even have to ask.

When singer/songwriter Erica Nicole was told about an event to honor law enforcement officers in DeKalb County, she jumped at the opportunity even before a formal request was made.

Nicole, who now calls Los Angeles home but grew up in DeKalb, was speaking to family friend Liane Levatan about the upcoming fourth Annual Police Officers Ball. She said she has long been a supporter of the military and law enforcement and volunteered her time and talent to be part of the local event.

Go to full story: Champion Newspaper

Group seeks to recognize Public Safety Champions

The concept that good deeds should be acknowledged is at the heart of a new local effort to recognize police officers and community members who have gone above and beyond.

The DeKalb County Police Alliance and The Champion Newspaper are partnering on the 2010 DeKalb Public Safety Champion Awards. They are seeking the public's nominations of police officers, community members and/or community organizations that have had a positive impact on public safety in DeKalb County.

Go to full story: The Champion Newspaper

DeKalb graduates 89th class from police academy

DeKalb County CEO Burrell Ellis and the DeKalb County Police Department on May 10, 2010, celebrated the graduation of the 89^th class of the police academy at a ceremony held in the Manuel Maloof Auditorium located at 1300 Commerce Drive in Decatur, Georgia.

"Today, you have earned the respect and admiration of your families, your friends, your future fellow officers, and your CEO. The DeKalb community is humbly grateful that all of you have answered the call of duty that comes from within," CEO Ellis said. "To be effective in the roles that you have chosen, it will be important that you understand the true partnership between law enforcement and the community.  This partnership requires that you care about, trust and respect the citizens you serve, and that they care about, trust and respect you."

DeKalb County leaders gathered May 10, 2010, to honor the county's fallen officers during the annual DeKalb Officers Memorial ceremony held in front of the memorial wall, located near the Old Courthouse in downtown Decatur.  The wall bears the names of fallen officers in DeKalb County, dating back to 1852.

On hand were CEO Burrell Ellis, Commissioners Elaine Boyer, Jeff Rader, Lee May, Kathie Gannon and Larry Johnson, along with Solicitor Robert James, Public Safety Director William Miller, and members of the DeKalb County Police Department.

"The loss of a single officer is too much and far too many have laid down their lives in the line of duty," said CEO Ellis. "Since 1962, our nation has observed National Police Week.  Here in DeKalb, we proudly uphold this tradition by commemorating the lives and sacrifices of those officers who are no longer with us in body, but who inspire us forever and who remain with us in spirit for so long as we are here to honor and cherish their memories."

Since 1852, 39 police officers from DeKalb County agencies, including those in cities in the county, have been killed in the line of duty.