Code Enforcement operation moved to Police Department

During Tuesday night's Clayton County Board of Commissioners meeting, the board voted 4-0-1 to transfer the operation of the Clayton County Code Enforcement from Community Development to the Clayton County Police Department. Commissioner Virginia Gray abstained. All code enforcement equipment will be transferred to CCPD and all personnel will report to the police starting on Monday, May 7, at the next Clayton County payroll cycle. The idea was largely the brainchild of Commissioner Michael Edmondson, who made the motion to bring the measure up for a vote. It was seconded by Commissioner Wole Ralph. Edmondson said the purpose of making code enforcement a police matter was to "utilize more efficient use of manpower and our resources," and to "add some teeth," to ordinances enforcement which are currently enforced only by civilian officers. "Code enforcement is probably the largest or at least one of the two largest types of incoming complaints or concerns I have received as commissioner during my first four months in office," said Edmondson. "The police department has an extremely cutting edge communication system, both 911 and non-emergency hotlines, computer systems, and trained dispatching staff, none of which code enforcement has." With code enforcement under the police, "I believe that we can cut down the response times," and make the entire code enforement division, "more responsive to constituents and more efficient in its procedures," said Edmondson. Another benefit Edmondson noted was that the shift would give code enforcement officials the backing of police, therefore allowing them to get quicker results. "If a civilian code enforcement officer approaches somebody in violation of an ordinance, there is no follow up," said Edmondson. "If a code enforcement officer has a mandated officer supervising that shift, they can call a supervisor out ... and they can add some teeth to the ordinance. I think overall, this is going to benefit the community in a good way with no additional budget costs." Ralph agreed. "We need to really crack down on [code enforcement violations] in a deliberate way," said Ralph. "Giving them the backup of the police department," will "send a message that we are serious." "We're not talking about taking police officers fighting crime from other areas," he continued. "It integrates nicely with the community policing model that [Clayton County Police Chief Jeff Turner] has already embarked upon. It's a great model for other counties." Commission Chairman Eldrin Bell voted for the shift as "it was recommended" by advisors to the county, but questioned whether putting the police in charge of civil matters was the best use of the county's resources. "What [many people] fail to realize is the cost of a police operation," said Bell. "It's the most expensive tax dollar you can spend. "I don't question the moving of units around, I just question that we should pay the police to do it. I'm just looking for the most efficient use of taxpayer dollars." Bell also was concerned that the additional responsibility would put a strain on the police department. "I want police out there fighting gangs, drugs, and crime," said Bell. "It puts a greater burden on the police department to look over a civil matter. It's stretching the police management beyond it's functional purpose, which is to manage the security and safety affairs of the community." Turner, however, supports the move. "I do support the move, because with [code enforcement] being under the police department, we can be more aggressive with cleaning up this county," he said. "That gives us the opportunity to dispatch police personnel when citizens aren't conforming [to ordinances] the way they need to be." Turner said that the transfer would also provide an extra layer of protection to civilian code enforcement officers. "Sometimes people are confrontational with code enforcement officials when you ask them to mow their lawn or move their car," said Turner. "Bringing an armed police officer will bring a little different attitude among the citizens. I think we'll get a little more compliance if an officer shows up on the scene." Turner said that there would be no change in code enforcement personnel, but they will now be under the direction of the police department. "We are just going to use our supervisors to supervise them. There is a lot of work to be done in Clayton County and we are going to continue to address the problems and attack it head on," said Turner