The Tucker-Northlake Community Improvement District (CID) has entered into an agreement with the Georgia Association of Chiefs of Police (GACP) to conduct a public safety assessment on current conditions and a feasibility study on the potential creation of a city police department. The goal of the study is to explore all available options for reducing crime and improving response times, and to examine the longstanding question: Would Tucker benefit from having its own police department?
Since incorporating in 2016, the City of Tucker has gradually expanded its municipal services. Zoning, code enforcement, and parks and recreation were selected by voters as the initial services. In 2023, public works was added. Police services, however, continue to be provided by DeKalb County.
In 2019, DeKalb County commissioned the Carl Vinson Institute of Government at the University of Georgia to study the fiscal impact of new city formations and municipal service expansion. The study reviewed several scenarios, including the possibility of Tucker assuming responsibility for police services.
That report, released in February 2020, concluded that Tucker could afford a municipal police department without requiring a tax increase (Analysis of Fiscal Impact on DeKalb County from Potential Municipal Incorporations and Service Displacement). However, the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic just weeks later halted all related discussions.
What the 2020 study did not address was what level of service a Tucker Police Department could realistically provide. Not all police departments operate at the same level, and service quality can vary significantly.
In response, the Tucker-Northlake CID is picking up where the earlier study left off. The GACP study will examine five key areas:
- Current Law Enforcement Coverage
- Crime Statistics
- Calls for Service
- Population and Economic Analysis
- Legal and Regulatory Requirements for Creating a Police Department
The CID is not taking a position for or against the formation of a city police department at this time. Rather, its goal is to ensure that all potential public safety improvements are thoroughly evaluated.
Public safety remains a top concern region-wide. According to the last three Metro Atlanta Speaks surveys conducted by the Atlanta Regional Commission, crime and the economy consistently rank as the top two issues across the 11-county metro area.
“We keep a close watch on public safety, locally and regionally,” said Matthew Lee, Executive Director of the Tucker-Northlake CID. “We know other communities are working to improve, and we need to do the same. This study is simply the next step in our ongoing efforts.”
The CID has a track record of public safety investment. Since 2018, it has funded off-duty DeKalb County Police officers to patrol the district. In 2019, the CID began installing license plate readers (LPRs) to help law enforcement identify suspects. In 2023, the CID expanded its LPR network and successfully encouraged the City of Tucker to install ten additional cameras. In 2024, the CID Board allocated $100,000 to further expand police coverage in the district.
Discussions with the GACP began in fall 2024. “We fully support the work of the DeKalb County Police Department,” said Lee. “Our message has been consistent: we need more officers. CEO Lorraine Cochran-Johnson and Commissioner Robert Patrick have both listened to our concerns, and we appreciate their continued support.”
The study is a collaborative effort. In addition to the Tucker-Northlake CID, partners include the Tucker Civic Association, Tucker Business Association, Tucker Main Street Alliance, Smoke Rise Civic Association, Northlake Condominiums, and the Tucker Summit CID.
“Expanding the tent was the right call,” Lee said. “We appreciate the support of our partners, and we look forward to more conversations when the study is completed this summer.”