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Class focuses on active shooter
Cities, county squabble over new formula for sales tax Fulton County seeking 60% increase in share By ALEXANDER POPP alex@appenmedia.com
ALEX POPP/APPEN MEDIA
Johns Creek Police Department Lt. Deb Kalish speaks to a crowd at the police department’s active shooter response training class July 19 at City Hall.
Police brief public on proper reaction By ALEXANDER POPP alex@appenmedia.com JOHNS CREEK, Ga. — Sounds of gunfire, screams and chaos rang through John’s Creek City Hall on July 19. But there wasn’t any danger. The gunshots and screams were all recorded or reenacted, and the chaos was all on video, played to a about 50 people in the City Council chamber
assembled for a John’s Creek Police Department course on how to respond to an active shooter event. Police Public Information Officer Lt. Deb Kalish, who served as instructor, said last week’s class was one of the best turnout’s they’ve had. “Normally, I might get half of the people that show up, that actually sign up,” Kalish said. “It was a packed house, and people were really interested. The more people I can teach how to respond, the better.” Kalish said they always have a bigger turnout when there are active shooter events in the recent months, as people
become more concerned about the safety of their family and coworkers. “I always say, ‘it doesn’t matter until it does,’” she said. The class is based on the nationally recognized Advanced Law Enforcement Rapid Response Training (ALERRT) system, which prioritizes action by all involved in an active shooter situation. It differs from other, more conservative systems taught nationally in the past. Here are some of the top takeaways from the John’s Creek Civilian Response
See ACTIVE, Page 12
FULTON COUNTY, Ga. — Area mayors fired off statements last week decrying a bid by Fulton County to keep a larger share of the countywide local option sales tax. At stake is $252 million collected countywide each year that cities rely on to help fund hundreds of expenses, from park maintenance to light bills and almost everything in between. In 2020, the city of Alpharetta received $15.5 million, or 5.8 percent of the total LOST collected in the county. Milton received $8.8 million, 3.3 percent of proceeds. Every 10 years, the county and its cities – now 15 in number – renegotiate how money collected from the
See SALES TAX, Page 4