Sheriff’s Office earns reaccreditation

The Fulton County Sheriff ’s Office recently earned the award of reaccreditation from the Commission on Accreditation for Law Enforcement Agencies. Sheriff Theodore “Ted” Jackson and members of the FCSO’s Planning and Research Section traveled to Mobile, Alabama for final review by the commission and the award presentation.

CALEA assessors conducted an extensive assessment of the agency in 2016. During that time, the assessors reviewed the Fulton County Sheriff ’s Office’s policies and procedures, inspected equipment, attended a public forum and gathered feedback from the community, and interviewed essential personnel. Lead assessor retired Chief Marc Duguay of the Broward County, Florida Sheriff ’s Office and team member Pamela McKay of the St. Mary’s County, Maryland Sheriff ’s Office spent three days on site to complete this assessment.

Agencies undergo an assessment for reaccreditation by CALEA every three years. Moving forward, this Agency will adhere to the new model which requires evaluations on a four year cycle. Assessors will review files remotely once a year in order for agencies to remain in compliance.

The reassessment is a voluntary opportunity for the FCSO to demonstrate its commitment to utilizing the best practices in law enforcement. CALEA re-accreditation requires an agency to further develop a comprehensive, well thought out, uniform set of written directives. CALEA Accreditation facilitates an agency’s pursuit of professional excellence. It is considered one of the most effective and successful methods for reaching administrative and operational goals, while also providing direction to personnel.

Information: www.calea.org

Upcoming

Kids Coding Classes. 6:30-8 p.m. Monday and April 17. Free. Morrow Branch, 6225 Maddox Road, Morrow. 770-347-0170, claytonpl.org.

Journey With the Cross. 7:30 p.m. April 14, Good Friday. Free. Wesley Chapel United Methodist Church, 397 Racetrack Road, McDonough. Retrace the steps of the Via Dolorosa/”Way of Sorrow” through the community with a parade processional beginning and ending at the church. Trace the 14 stations taken by Jesus - each one marking an event in Jesus’ final journey through the streets of Jerusalem. For the Easter Sunrise Service, Pastor William Bert Neal III will deliver the message at 7 a.m. April 16 on the McDonough Square, 5 Griffin St. or, in case of rain, at the First Baptist Church of McDonough, 101 Macon St. Afterward, Wesley Chapel UMC will hold worship services at 8:30 and 11 a.m., breakfast at 9:40 a.m. and Sunday school at 10 a.m. 770-9574728, WesleyMcD.org.

Spring Fling Arts & Crafts Festival by Fayette Senior Services. 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. April 15. FSS Life Enrichment Center, 4 Center Drive, Fayetteville. Arts and crafts, photography, food, music, face painting, games, prizes and more. For nearly 40 years, FSS has provided essential services to ages 50 and above such as Meals on Wheels, transportation, information and referral assistance, care management, in-home personal care, adult day care, home repair and Ani-Meals. Amy Epperson at 770-461-0813 or aepperson@fayss.org.

Business association creates 3 new festivals

The Avondale Estates Business Association, revived last October after being dormant for about two years, has created three new festivals for this year.

“Shakespeare in Avondale Estates is set for noon to 5 p.m. April 15 in the Tudor Village downtown. The centerpieces are two performances by The Atlanta Shakespeare Company, one for children at 2 p.m. and another for adults—”Shakespeare: The Language that Shaped a World”—at 3:30 p.m. Both will be at the Avondale Towne Cinema, 106 North Avondale Road.

Elvis Fest is scheduled for August 19, three days after the 40th anniversary of Elvis Presley’s death. The third is a September event celebrating Waffle House, which opened its first restaurant in Avondale in 1955. In fact the AEBA recently received a $2500 check from the restaurant chain.

“We hope all three of these will become annual events,” said AEBA Chair Fisher Paty. “We need more events because we need to be bringing in more people from outside the city.