Atlanta Mayor Andre Dickens, Atlanta Police Department (APD) Chief Rodney Bryant, and others Thursday announced plans for a new Zone 2 precinct in One Buckhead Plaza, Cousins Properties’ office tower at the intersection of Peachtree Road and West Paces Ferry. It will be called the “West Village” precinct.
“Public Safety is a top priority for this administration,” Mayor Dickens said in a prepared statement. “It is important that everyone in our city feels a sense of security as our police continue to combat crime wherever it exists. Thank you to Cousins Properties, the Buckhead CID, and the Buckhead Coalition for their partnership in making this new precinct possible and expanding APD’s presence in the West Village.”
The creation of the West Village precinct is a collaboration among APD, Buckhead Coalition, Buckhead Community Improvement District (BCID), and Cousins Properties.
APD has signed a lease with Cousins for a “nominal fee,” according to the announcement. Buckhead Coalition and BCID are contributing $150,000 for the buildout of space, located below the King + Duke restaurant on West Paces Ferry.
APD will equip and operate the precinct, which by summer 2022 will have at least 12 officers. They will augment the efforts of the beat officers, enabling both groups to operate more efficiently as crime fighters. The goal is to staff the precinct with 24 officers depending on the overall growth of the APD.
“Adding a new precinct on the west side of Buckhead will be a tremendous asset in Zone 2,” Major Andrew Senzer, APD Zone 2 Commander, said. “A high percentage of our calls are related to traffic incidents. Having a group of officers dedicated to that work will make it more efficient and will ensure we have ample resources to devote to other important law enforcement matters.”
The West Village precinct is the latest example of the Buckhead business community partnering with APD to address local crime. Since late 2020, public and private-sector partners have implemented the Buckhead Security Plan to deter crime, enhance law enforcement, and push for key policy and procedural changes.
“A tremendous amount of work to enhance safety has been done over the past year and we are beginning to see a return on that investment,” Jim Durrett, president and CEO of Buckhead Coalition and executive director of BCID. “There’s still a long way to go, but it’s clear that city leaders have heard Buckhead’s concerns and are working to address them.”
