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Atlanta police, fire discusses Holiday Public Safety Plan

By and FOX 5 Atlanta Digital Team
Updated  November 2, 2023 9:05pm EDT
Atlanta
FOX 5 Atlanta

Atlanta boosts security ahead of holiday shopping season

These cooler temperatures have already put many of us in a holiday mood. Thursday, Atlanta's mayor and police chief rolled out their security plan now for holiday shopping.

ATLANTA - Holiday Shopping is already underway at many retail areas in our city.

Atlanta Police want everyone to know violence crime is down citywide, and they plan to keep it that way as they roll out their holiday security plans at Lenox Square Mall and other shopping districts around town.

Mayor Andre Dickens says we should expect a safe holiday shopping season here at Lenox and other malls across the city.

WATCH FULL PRESS CONFERENCE BELOW

RAW: City of Atlanta Holiday Public Safety Plan presser

City of Atlanta, Atlanta Police Department and Atlanta Fire Department talk about Public Safety Plan

Atlanta Police Chief Darin Schierbaum says violent crime is down citywide and he wants that to continue those stats during the holiday shopping season.

One of the ways he plans to do so, is with "Operation Deep Freeze."

It involves arresting offenders who already have outstanding warrants and getting them off the streets.

"To make sure individuals that we know pose a risk to our 245 neighborhoods who are wanted, to get them arrested and before a courtroom," Atlanta Police Chief Darin Schierbaum exclaimed.

Both police and fire officials showed off new vehicles that will be visible at malls and shopping districts starting now.

AFD has five new quick-response vehicles that are smaller than a full size fire trucks, to navigate Atlanta gridlock.

"They are pickup trucks that are smaller and nimbler than our engines. They are equipped to provide basic and advanced life care support," Fire Chief Rod Smith commented.

The mayor says expect to see more officers on the street to keep the bad guys and their guns in check.

"We have seen a great reduction by working with the team here at Lenox Square. By working with APD, AFD and the team here, the security team at Lenox Square. Violent crime is down here at well. We will be vigilante that people can shop, dine and entertain in peace across the city of Atlanta," the mayor said with exuberance. 

There are some dos and don'ts.

The chief stressed locking those packages up in the trunk, keeping your cars clean when the thieves' peek inside and putting all those guns in lockboxes, not just your glove compartment.

The mayor says 1 million to 1.5 million people shop at Lenox Square Mall monthly, making it one of the biggest shopping centers in the Southeast.