The Ellijay Police Department is planning to transition to a more modern style of body armor.
City councilmembers heard an update from Police Chief Edward Lacey regarding the impending change in protective body armor during a Monday, April 15, council meeting.
Lacey said, over the last 10 years, this particular style of body armor, which is worn over the shirt, has become more commonplace and the most acceptable uniform according to public opinion.
“The sheriff’s offices in Gilmer, Fannin, Pickens and Cherokee have gone with this uniform. Blue Ridge, East Ellijay, Jasper, Ball Ground, Canton and pretty much all the (area) police departments wear this type of uniform,” he added.
Lacey noted that he’s had requests from the department’s officers to adopt the new gear. Upon wearing the external body armor carrier, it has proven to have its advantages, he told Mayor Al Hoyle and councilmembers Claudia Penland, Thomas Griffith, Tom Crawford, Kevin Pritchett and Al Fuller.
“All the equipment normally worn on the belt and hips is placed on the chest and (the weight is) distributed across the body,” Lacey said. “Not only is it more comfortable, it’s cooler and you’re able to quickly take it off for rehabilitation if somebody gets overheated. Not so much for the traditional under uniform concealable body armor, which is what we normally wear. In that situation, you have to pretty much get undressed for rehabilitation.”
The Ellijay PD receives a federal grant that helps replace body armor, which has a five-year expiration date.
“We won’t be doing it immediately. We’ll be phasing it in as we replace uniforms and body armor,” Lacey said. “Cost-wise, there’s not that much of a difference, (and) the carrier is included in the grant we have.”
Lacey asked for the council’s feedback, and each member, in some way, expressed support for the change.
“Everybody will maintain a traditional uniform for formal occasions and court, but for regular duty, they’ll be going with this,” Lacey said.
In other news …
﹣ In regard to the council’s previous decision to eliminate parallel parking spaces on River Street from the roundabout to North Avenue, Hoyle said the Georgia Department of Transportation has provided a drawing of what the area would look like with line striping to cover the area currently used for parallel parking.
“There’s a permitting process as well, and they haven’t completed the permit. That won’t go until the water line project (on River Street) is finished,” Hoyle said.
﹣ Harrison Park may eventually get a water fountain, at least one for people and possibly one for pets.
Al Fuller said the Friends of Harrison Park (FOHP) and the city have been talking about putting a water fountain in the park for a couple of years, and they are now in the process of getting quotes on supplies.
“We haven’t come up with a definitive price yet,” said Fuller. “There’s going to be some cost-sharing involved (with the city and FOHP).”
Linda Lancaster, of Friends of Harrison Park, said a lot of parkgoers have asked about also having a fountain for dogs.
“We have talked with Al about how many volunteers and people come to the park with their dogs. We support their interest in having a doggie fountain along with the people fountain. We’ve been really interested in making this happen,” she added.
﹣ Councilmembers also approved:
Amending the city charter to include that the council can vote on forming different committees when needed.
A special event alcohol permit for a May event at Harrison Park.