Responding to concerns about crimes that have occurred on Atlanta’s BeltLine, Mayor Kasim Reed and Atlanta Police Chief George Turner officially introduced the new “Path Force Unit” this summer. The unit is comprised of 15 officers assigned to ensure public safety on the BeltLine Path.

This new unit of 15 officers and three supervisors, which began its patrol in early July, is being paid by a $1.8 million grant from the U.S. Department of Justice in 2012. They have been protecting the trail for the past month and can be seen on foot, on bicycles or even on horseback.

“Today marks another milestone of progress for our city and the Atlanta BeltLine,” Mayor Reed said at the press conference introducing the new unit. “This innovative, highly trained and carefully selected group of officers and commanders will help maintain the Atlanta BeltLine as one of our city’s premier public spaces and attractions for residents and visitors alike.”

BeltLine officials praised the city’s move to assign police officers solely to the BeltLine, as a sign of the city’s commitment to create a better and safer community for all.

“This is a real opportunity to make Atlanta a much greater place,” said Paul Morris, President and CEO of Atlanta BeltLine, Inc. “Their efforts have really changed the way we think about the Atlanta BeltLine Trail.”

Since 2011, there have been 12 recorded major crimes on the BeltLine, seven of which were robberies or attempted robberies. The other five crimes included verbal assaults, burglary and graffiti.

Sgt. Chad Hannula, the day watch supervisor for the entire BeltLine Trail, explained that since starting on June 20, the Path Force Unit has made more than 60 arrests or issued citations on the BeltLine, and about one in five have been wanted people that were living on the BeltLine.

“We’ve had a few pedestrian robberies, where people have actually walked by and snatched somebody’s cell phone,” Hannula stated. “But beyond that, we have graffiti, loud noise complaints and drinking in the park, so those are some things we’ve been addressing as well.”

With coverage on the BeltLine seven days a week and most hours of the day, there is never a time when there is not somebody prepared to respond on the BeltLine.

Corey Andry, a current officer on the Path Force, said he became a police officer “to make a difference in the community in which I work and live.”

He added, “A typical day on the BeltLine is always a pleasant one. I meet wonderful people who really appreciate my presence and respect the laws that are put in place to ensure everyone enjoys what the BeltLine has to offer.”

Not only is this new APD Path Force ensuring public safety for anybody using the trail, but the city has also installed video cameras placed at various points along the BeltLine and additional lighting along trails and bridges.

“The Atlanta BeltLine has become one of the greatest amenities our city has to offer and we are committed to keeping it safe and enjoyable for everyone,” Morris said.

According to Hannula, who is in charge of the entire 15-mile trail, the Atlanta BeltLine team is working with the Path Force to make sure that there is good signage, good lighting and encouragement of the “See Something, Say Something” principle. According to the principle, people should call the officers if they see anything that seems suspicious. Hannula said that the initial call is essential so that “we know about a potential problem, we respond, and we handle it.”

Because these 15 officers are always patrolling the BeltLine, its adjoining neighborhoods and its adjoining parks seven days a week, usage of the BeltLine is constantly increasing.

“Public safety is essential in everything that we do,” Morris said. “What’s been most gratifying, even in its early days, to me has been the community’s perception of the Path Force. What they say to the community at large is that the BeltLine is going to be a great safe place for anyone to be on whenever they need to be.”