Dozens of DeKalb County Solicitor-General’s Office staff members spread out across the county to meet residents, share information and strengthen community partnerships during National Night Out.

Office volunteers participated in celebrations in Clarkston, the City of Chamblee, the Flintridge Forest community in the Tucker Precinct, Creekwood Hills and the Rockbridge Coalition, and the City of Stonecrest.

Staff members greeted residents and provided vital information about the responsibilities of the Solicitor-General’s Office and the many ways its units serve and support the community. The team’s smiling faces and T-shirts reflected the message of a better safer DeKalb during National Night Out. It showed just how much staff members enjoyed participating in the evening’s activities.

“National Night Out gives us an invaluable opportunity to meet residents where they are, explain how each unit in our office serves the community and listen directly to the concerns of the people we serve,” said DeKalb County Solicitor-General Donna Coleman-Stribling. “Strong communities are built through trust, communication and collaboration. We value every opportunity to strengthen those relationships as we work together to create a better, safer DeKalb County.”

National Night Out is an annual community-building campaign that promotes partnerships between law enforcement agencies and the communities they serve. The initiative also encourages neighborhood camaraderie and creates opportunities for residents, public safety professionals and community organizations to interact under positive circumstances.

Each year, millions of residents participate in National Night Out events across thousands of communities in all 50 states, U.S. territories and military bases worldwide. Communities commemorate the occasion with block parties, festivals, parades, cookouts, youth activities, safety demonstrations, educational seminars, emergency personnel visits and other family-friendly events.

Introducing DeKalb’s Community Prosecutor

This year’s National Night Out also provided an opportunity for the Solicitor-General’s Office to introduce Assistant Solicitor-General Keith Collins in his new role as Community Prosecutor.

Although Collins is new to the position, he is not new to the office or its community outreach efforts. During his approximately two years with the Solicitor-General’s Office, Collins has prosecuted some of the community’s most difficult cases and regularly volunteered at office-sponsored community events.

As Community Prosecutor, Collins will work with homeowners associations, neighborhood groups, advocacy organizations, businesses, schools, public safety agencies and other community partners to build trust, hear residents’ concerns and help address matters that significantly affect DeKalb County communities.

“I am proud to serve as the Community Prosecutor for the DeKalb County Solicitor-General’s Office,” Collins said. “While prosecutors are often associated with the courtroom, my work also happens in the community, building relationships, listening to concerns, and partnering with residents, neighborhood associations, businesses, schools and public safety agencies to address issues and support matters that have a significant impact on the people we serve.”

Solicitor-General Coleman-Stribling said the Community Prosecutor will help strengthen the connection between the office and the residents it serves.

“Keith understands that effective prosecution and public safety extend beyond the courtroom,” Coleman-Stribling said. “He will work directly with homeowners associations, community organizations and advocacy groups to create an environment of trust and partnership. That collaboration is essential to our shared goal of building a better and safer DeKalb County.”

The DeKalb County Solicitor-General’s Office looks forward to continuing its participation in National Night Out and connecting with communities throughout the county all year.