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Welcome to Neighbors in Uniform, a monthly newsletter that provides information about Gwinnett County Police events, topics, programs, and initiatives. We are honored to have the respect and trust of the residents we serve and protect, and we're happy to be a resource and support.
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Santa's Community Workshops provide more than 2,500 toys to local children!
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Navigating the holidays can be overwhelming for those who are already struggling to make ends meet. Gifts, decorations, food, and travel costs can become financial strains when the rent payment and other basic needs are top priority.
The Gwinnett Police Department recognizes that times are hard for many families in our community. With the help of residents and businesses, we hosted our third annual Santa's Community Workshop events in December at the Smoke Creek Mobile Home Park, The Reserve at Ivy Creek Apartments, and Jones RV Park. We also were able to provide toys to children and teens at the Single Parent Alliance & Resource Center in Norcross.
We thank our Gwinnett community members who answered the call and generously provided more than 2,500 toys during our Fill the Sleigh Toy Drive. These toys allowed us to be a blessing to kids and families during the holiday season. We also give a special thank you to our friends at the Salvation Army in Gwinnett, Ismaili Civic, Rebecca Kay Sapp Law Firm, Yezmin Sagbini, and our fellow Gwinnett County partners Live Healthy Gwinnett, B2 Anywhere, and Volunteer Gwinnett sections of the Department of Community Services for providing food, games, volunteers, and books to make our holiday events more memorable.
One of the Santa's Community Workshops was featured in Go Gwinnett!. Watch the episode below for a look at some of the special moments.
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Register for the next self-defense course for women
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Gwinnett Police offers free, basic self-defense courses to women ages 16 and older to kick off the new year. The course is taught by Rape Aggression Defense System certified instructors and includes lecture, discussion, and self-defense techniques suitable for women of all ages.
The lecture portion focuses on risk awareness, risk reduction, and risk avoidance, followed by hands-on tactical training. The techniques taught are designed to be quick and effective so that women of all fitness levels and ages will be successful in learning options to escape attacks.
The 12-hour course will be held on Tuesdays and Thursdays: February 20, February 22, February 27, and February 29, starting at 6:00pm. Registration is required. Sign up now! Women 16 and 17 years of age must be accompanied by a female family member 18 or older.
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$5,100 hiring incentive offered at this Saturday's hiring event
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Do you know someone with a heart for service? Join us at our next hiring event this Saturday, January 20, at the Gwinnett County Police Training Center, located at 854 Winder Highway in Lawrenceville. This is a unique opportunity to complete the first phase of our two-phase hiring process. Conditional job offers may be given during this event along with a $5,100 hiring incentive for new police officers.
To become a police officer, applicants must have a high school diploma or GED, be a United States citizen, eligible for POST certification, possess a valid driver's license from their state of residency, and be 21 years old by the time they graduate from the police academy.
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Youth Safety and Mental Health community discussion
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We recognize the importance of both physical and mental well-being for young people and will join other Gwinnett County departments in taking a proactive stance with a community discussion on Youth Safety and Mental Health.
This free event, set for Thursday, January 25, from 6:00pm to 7:30pm at the Gwinnett Justice and Administration Center located at 75 Langley Drive in Lawrenceville, aims to equip youth with essential knowledge and resources by fostering open dialogue. The event is co-hosted by the Gwinnett District Attorney's Office and GUIDE Inc. Various community partners will also be in attendance to offer additional resources. For more information about this community discussion, email PDCommunityAffairs@GwinnettCounty.com.
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Free Crime Prevention and Safety Programs for residents and business owners
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The Gwinnett Police Community Affairs Section offers a variety of free seminars to help educate the community on best safety practices and crime issues. Our most requested presentations include:
- Security Surveys for residential and commercial properties: Learn how to reduce the likelihood of theft and burglary for your home or business.
- Workplace Violence and Active Threat: Learn how to think differently and improvise if a violent situation arises at your place of employment.
- Child Safety Seat Checks: Learn how to properly install a child safety seat in your vehicle.
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Safety Tip of the Month: Beware of altered, forged, and counterfeit checks
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Gwinnet Police continues to see check forgery used to steal funds from bank accounts. These thefts can range from several hundred dollars to several hundred thousand dollars. One commonality seen in these cases is that the original check is mailed to vendors or family members. The envelopes are often stolen from the mail and then checks can be altered and illegally cashed. Below are a few tips you can use to help minimize this form of theft.
- Pay digitally, using peer-to-peer payment services such as Zelle or electronic bill pay.
- If a check must be mailed, make copies of the original.
- Drop off checks in person at the post office or consider using UPS or FedEx with a delivery notification.
- Monitor your bank accounts and report suspicious activity to your bank.
- For companies and businesses who issue large amounts of checks, use a positive pay system through your bank.
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