Columbus Against Drugs

What is CAD?

CAD is a network of organized neighborhood groups that work together with law enforcement agencies to remove drug activities fortress hold on their neighborhoods. Representatives from the business community, civic organizations, the religious community, government officials and all local public safety agencies work to support the CAD network.

Why Have CAD

CAD offers citizens and neighborhood organizations the opportunity to join together with law enforcement agencies to eliminate street-level drugs, CAD is a major component of the Columbus Police Department's Community Relations Unit. Officers work hand in hand with residents in their assigned neighborhoods to fight crime. This partnership is working! Serious felony calls have been reduced in neighborhoods participating in CAD. Citizens are empowered to help make their neighborhoods safe, healthy places.

For more information contact:

Sgt. Angela Florence at aflorence@columbusga.org or 706-225-4101. 

How Does CAD Work?

Neighbors work together to form an anti-drug group. They receive help from law enforcement agencies and other neighborhood anti-drug groups for education and training. Upon completion of at least one organized neighborhood anti-drug activity using the Herman Wrice Criterion, the neighborhood group is qualified to become a member of Columbus Against Drugs (CAD).

Representatives from each CAD neighborhood group meet together monthly with local public safety agencies to discuss activities and progress in the neighborhood. A member of the Columbus Police Department moderates each monthly meeting. Each month the CAD neighborhood representatives select a "Project of the Month" in one CAD neighborhood. All members of all CAD groups are encouraged to participate.

Three methods are used by the groups:

Marches

CAD members pound the pavement and chant anti-drug messages throughout their neighborhoods. Law enforcement officers accompany the CAD marchers, sending a clear message to drug users, drug dealers, and individuals involved in violent or criminal activities that drugs will not be tolerated in their community.  

Camp-Outs

CAD members band together and have camp-outs. Law enforcement conducts traffic checkpoints in high drug areas, stopping every car. Checkpoints net many arrests for all types of traffic and criminal violations - including drugs.

Citizen Complaint Forms

CAD groups are given Concerned Citizen Complaint Forms to distribute in their neighborhoods. Forms guide citizens in recognizing and observing illegal activity. Citizens may send their completed forms - anonymously - to the Police Department. Special forms are also used to alert city officials of city code violations such as junked & abandoned vehicles, illegal dumping, overgrown weeds and trashed lots.