Enacted a few years ago to help deter crime in the area, the Midway Woods Security Patrol program (formerly called the Midway Woods Paid Patrol), is staffed by off-duty DeKalb County police officers. It is designed to provide security to fill in the gap in police support since police cannot be in our neighborhood at all times.

Officers patrol the neighborhood and conduct drive-by checks of participating homes during their shifts, which occur at different times including late-night hours when tcrime occurs most often in the neighborhood (vehicle and shed break-ins are the most commonly reported incidents). The security patrol is in contact with 911 responding to calls and house alarms, arriving at locations within minutes.

Why join the Midway Woods Security Patrol?

1. The program is designed to fill a gap in police support for Midway Woods and help keep our neighborhood safer. The reality is, the county cannot be in our neighborhoods at all times.  ALL of our surrounding neighborhoods (Medlock Park, Belvedere Park, Candler Park/Lake Claire, Inman Park, Virginia Highland, Druid Hills, Kirkwood, Edgewood, East Lake, Cabbagetown/Reynoldstown, Old Fourth Ward, Grant Park, East Atlanta, Morningside) have realized the need for supplementing policing via neighborhood security patrols. Our neighborhood’s patrol was patterned after programs that have been in place and proven effective in other neighborhoods. While a security patrol can never stop all crime, it does provide a visible deterrent and results in a measurable decrease in criminal activity.
2. It only costs $13.30 per month. The total cost of a membership is $160 per year Other neighborhoods charge $200 to $360 per year. The number of patrols that can be offered each week is directly related to the number of people who sign up for the program. The funds raised by security patrol memberships go directly towards paying the officers doing the patrolling.
3.    Going on vacation? As a supporter of the program, you can request house checks when you will be away. Officers can also perform a safety survey of participating homes to identify any potential concerns.

The security patrol has also proven to be an effective way of communicating with and facilitating dialogue with the Dekalb County Police Department. All patrol officers receive anti-bias training.

More information about the Security Patrol.

To join (or renew), fill out the registration form by clicking or tapping on the button below:

Make your payment using PayPal (preferred method of payment) or by check. For Paypal, send payment to: treasurer@midwaywoodsassociation.org.

Membership costs $160 per year. The more members who sign up, the more patrol hours the program will be able to offer.

Join or renew your Security Patrol membership today.

We can all do our part to keep neighborhood crime at a minimum. The Paid Patrol is one way to combat crime but it isn’t the complete solution. Remember to keep your gates, sheds, house doors and cars locked, well-lit and items of value out of view to help deter would-be thieves.

Help get the word out:  If you see any kind of crime or have experienced it, share any details on our communications platforms such as the Midway Woods Neighbors Facebook group or on Nextdoor.com that can help neighbors anticipate or prevent crime.