ATLANTA — From robberies to murder, violent crime has gone up across the city of Atlanta and with summer approaching, there's a chance those numbers could rise even more.
Mayor Andre Dickens and Atlanta Police officials announced their plan on Tuesday to better protect residents during the season.
During the announcement, Dickens tossed to the new interim police chief Darin Schierbaum.
Crime numbers historically tend to go up in the summer months. So, Schierbaum noted there would be an increased police presence during the summer months, as Atlanta is one of the most visited cities in the nation and kids will be out of school.
These officers, according to Schierbaum, will be deployed to targeted areas where people are frequently committing crimes. However, he said the strategy is poised to be adapted throughout the summer.
Schierbaum also pointed to an increased police presence in Atlanta's parks, with officers riding everything from horses, to bikes and even motorcycles. Specifically, he said there would be additional bike officers added to the city's Zone 1.
Another notable hire was 15 additional mentors for Atlanta's youth centers.
Schierbaum also pointed to a couple campaigns aimed at keeping the city safe, including the clear car campaign, which encourages visitors to remove weapons from cars before heading into the city for events, and the 100 Days of Heat campaign, which partners police with other state and county agencies to crack down on drunk or aggressive drivers endangering others on the road.
Finally, Schierbaum touched on Connect Atlanta, an integrated camera system that lets police use footage from businesses and residents to quickly catch criminals or find individuals who may need assistance.
Mayor Dickens also used the moment to point toward other efforts by his administration to make the city safer, including the Light Up the Night campaign to add additional street lights to areas in need or the Summer Youth Employment Program, which seeks to hire 3,000 of Atlanta's youth, providing them with job opportunities and developing skills they can take into adulthood.
Dickens spoke on the importance of the cities parks and recreation centers in keeping kids out of trouble by offering activities for them to get involved in. He also mentioned all public pools in the city would be open and free for admission.
There was even a brief discussion on the city's new Nightlife Division, which Dickens said will "serve as a resource for Atlanta's thriving nightlife scene," keeping both businesses and patrons safe.