High profile crimes underscore need for beefed up police in Atlanta

By Charles Edwards

Atlanta, GA – Crimes committed against high profile Atlantans this weekend re-enforces the need for increased public safety in the city.

That's according to a city council member who happens to be one of this weekend's crime victims.

It was midnight Saturday when Atlanta City Council member Caesar Mitchell drove his mother to her Northwest Atlanta home. They were coming from a concert. Mitchell walked his mom to the door and went back to his car only to be confronted by 3 young men.

MITCHELL: "One of them pulled out a gun and fired it into the air and said just step away from the car."

That's when the men drove off with the car and Mitchell then called 911. Mitchell said it took no more than 10 minutes for officers to arrive. But he wonders if the crime would have happened if Atlanta had an increased police presence.

MITCHELL: "Making sure that we put more police officers on the street, that we increase the number of Red Dog police officers that we have, that we put police officers in the community on foot patrols."

Mitchell is running for city council president. Public safety is a top theme in his campaign platform and the agendas of all 5 Atlanta Mayoral candidates.