Letters of Thanks to the GPD
Letter to Cpl. R.S. McDonald:
"I just wanted to express my gratitude for your work with the Safety Town program. My son attended the morning session in August and had a fantastic time. I'm so pleased and impressed with what he learned through this program. What a wonderful service provided by the police department. Thank you so much for your dedication with this program." (August 23, 2008)
From a letter to the GPD:
"Unfortunately many fine acts of the GPO (sic) officers go unnoticed with only the negative ones making the news. I wish to inform you of the exceptional asset Officer Mauney is to the community, going beyond her duties as a Greensboro officer. Greensboro has been overrun with cells of feral cats. Animal Control, the Humane Society and the Feral Cat Society are agencies who deal with this situation in different ways. Officer Mauney has aided us through the Feral Cat Society by providing traps, helping us to trap the animals, keeping them overnight, having them neutered, rabies injections, helping with recovery and the release of these animals. This is all performed on her off-duty time as a public service. Her efforts are deeply appreciated and need to be recognized." (August 16, 2008)
Letter to Chief Tim Bellamy:
"The Greensboro Police Department has been criticized over the last few years for many things. This letter gives me the opportunity to highlight a positive for the department and especially Police Officer R.R. Chapman. Officer Chapman in just a few hours after my vehicle was stolen from my house on August 14 was able to apprehend the thief and arrest him. More importantly, he came to my house to determine if my vehicle was stolen only to find another police officer at my residence getting details about the theft. Officer Chapman patiently gave me all the details relating to the apprehension and the next steps that I should take. He then went beyond the call of duty, in my opinion, by taking me to the Records Department at the Police Station to sign for my vehicle that had already been towed. He then took me to the towing company to retrieve my vehicle.
"It is my belief that most police officers would have completed their report, provided me with the information and moved on. I am most grateful that my car was found and even more grateful that Officer Chapman was the officer to provide me with the good news. I commend you and the Greensboro Police Department for having such dedicated and patient officers like Officer Chapman. I shall forever share my experience with those who have little good to say about our police department." (August 19, 2008)
A Greensboro resident called the GPD with the following commendation:
Officer CR Blake was dispatched to a suspicious vehicle call at 125 Aunt Mary Avenue at approximately 7:30 am to a home that was undergoing repairs and renovations after a house fire. There was a suspicious vehicle parked behind the house. The vehicle turned out to be a rental that belonged to a neighbor going through a domestic dispute. The response time was very quick. Officer Blake took the situation very seriously and did a superb job in handling the matter. Officer Blake was very thorough and sincere. (June 19, 2008)
"While working an event at 4927 W. Market Street, several fights took place inside of the event, with a large crowd that outnumbered our officers. I placed a call to 911 and explained what was going on.The first units arrived shortly after I placed the call. Together with the Gang Task Force, TSET and Sgt. R.H. Sizemore, we were able to gain control of the event and the patrons were able to depart in a safe manner." ~ Maj. D.A. Young, Kimber Security (May 27, 2008)
The following comments were sent to the Police Department from a security officer at Wachovia Tower downtown:
On Friday morning, an individual came into the building who seemed disoriented and barely coherent. He was physically violent and a call was made to 911. Four officers responded and handled the situation with quiet dignity. They got the individual under control and talked him into getting into the patrol car. Seven of the attorneys upstairs complimented the officers and said they were impressed with the way the officers diffused the situation without Tasers or physical restraints. (May 12, 2008)
"Last Sunday night, my niece had her pocketbook stolen while she was at the Food Lion out at Golden Gate. The man who stole it called her and was wanting money for the return of her pocketbook. She told him to meet her at Bessemer Avenue but he wasn't there and we had called GPD. He called again at the house at 12:00 and said he was coming to the house, but the officers were hid. They got him and got her pocketbook back. I just want y'all to know they did an excellent job, a great job."
"I would like to take the time to recognize Officer BC Overstreet. After my company acquired an apartment complex, he said that he would do anything to help. He continues to be broadly focused on the property's progress. Officer Overstreet has helped establish a strong deterrent to crime and has always had an open line of communication. Our plans to make this property a premier apartment community in Greensboro is a vision that both Officer Overstreet and I share. I cannot forget the strong appreciation I have for Officer Overstreet."
"There was some suspicious activity near our house Wednesday night and within minutes of what we saw, cops were there; clearly someone had called. A second incident happened between 11:30 pm and 12 midnight; I called the cops and two cars showed up within 3 or 4 minutes. The police response was excellent! Tell them that we appreciate all they are doing to keep our community a safe place to live."
"I just wanted to commend the Greensboro Police Department on their rapid response today. My husband apparently left his wallet somewhere in Martinsville. The police there contacted Greensboro who sent a car to our home to make sure that my husband knew who to contact in Martinsville to reclaim his wallet. I was so impressed at the speedy action and courtesy with which this was done. I know you usually only hear the bad stories and while this is very minor, it was greatly appreciated. Many thanks!"
"I am a new resident to the city and have heard a lot of disparaging remarks about the force. Well, I would like to give the department a hearty 'Well Done!' I rent a storage room at Public Storage on Electric Street and due to the fast response of the police, the perpetrator was caught and all property was found and returned to its rightful owners. Again, I would like to say 'Thanks' for a job well done."
"Dear Police Crew, Hi, how are you? I'm the girl who asked Sgt. JP Lowdermilk for lunch buddies! I enjoy it very much. Thank you very much for coming. I hope we can do that again some time. If not, I guess it's okay. But if so great. My name is Emily, sorry I didn't say that at first. When he left there was a problem with a 14-year-old boy. Well, I hope everything is okay!"
"On behalf of the Betty B. Thomas Family, we would like to take the time to thank the Greensboro Police Department and especially the homicide division detectives that worked so hard in finding the suspected criminals involved in taking our mother and wife from us so soon. We realize that in this day and time when the media only seems full of how much the Greensboro Police Department is not doing and the negative image that is sometimes felt in our city, we just want to say 'thank you' for the quick and diligent work that your detectives have done in a short amount of time. Knowing that the force is understaffed and overworked, this unit, along with the whole department, continued to work toward making an arrest in order to bring these suspects to justice. Please feel encouraged to continue the hard work that is so very important to keep our city safe."
On February 22nd, the Guilford County Sheriff's Department conducted the first annual Child Support Roundup. Members of the Greensboro Police Department's Warrant Squad were requested to participate in this operation. On the morning of the assignment, I requested the first shift patrol squad supervisors to provide additional assistance with this worthy endeavor. Without hesitation, Officers BG Brown, NS Edwards, TT Huynh, and LD Leake were made available. The officers were assigned a portion of the four hundred outstanding child support orders for arrest and spent the early morning hours of Saturday, February 22nd attempting to locate these 'dead beat parents.' Not only did the officers act promptly to the request for assistance, they did so professionally in action and attitude. As outstanding service is not often brought to your attention, the actions of these officers deserve recognition."