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QUICK FINDER Business 14A Sports 15-16A Opinion 5A SOUTH DEKALB ISN'TTHE GHETTO Classified 12A OPINION, 5A [couplTearns DOUGH WITH SPECIALTY BREADS BUSINESS, 14A STEPHENSON LINEBACKER HAS TOP DEFENSIVE STATS SPORTS, 16A The Official Legal Organ ofDeKalb County, GA. Serving East Atlanta, Avondale Estates, Brookhaven, Chamblee, Clarkston, Decatur, Doraville, Dunwoody, Lithonia, Pine Lake, Tucker and Stone Mountain. \jjti lb Social U thechampionnewspaper.com SECTION A: VOL. 25 NO. 25 TheChampion ist Place General excellence Award Winner Georgia Press Association ‘Better Newspaper Contest’ 2007, 2009-2014 IAN. 8 - 14, 2015 500 Ringing in the NEW YEAR Revelers rang in the New Year in historic fashion at DeKalb History Center on Dec. 31. More than 100 attended the fundraising event. Catering was provided by Badda Bing and event design provided by Soiree South & Co. See more pictures on page 13A. Photos by Travis Hudgons County police department commemorates centennial by Andrew Cauthen andrew@dekalb champ, com Residents of the Tucker commu nity wanted police protection, so they pressured the DeKalb County Board of Commissioners to provide it. That was 1915 and the beginning of the DeKalb County Police Depart ment. This year the department is celebrating its centennial. On Dec. 29, 2014, DeKalb police officers received centennial anniversary commemora tive badges, while civilian employees received a commemorative coin with a replica of the badge on it. “The badge of a DeKalb County Police officer is earned through hard work, honor and integrity,” interim DeKalb County Police Chief James Conroy told officers before passing out badges during a roll call. “It is a symbol of our honor, our authority to protect, the respect to our communi ty, and to enforce the law set forth by the United States of America, the state of Georgia and the county ofDeKalb. “Sworn officers are now autho rized and encouraged to wear this commemorative badge in 2015 to honor our past and look toward our future,” Conroy said. “At the end of this year, this badge will remain yours in honor of our place in the history of our department.” Conroy said when the department was founded, “T here were some cit ies at the time and they had their own See Police on page 13A New badges have been distributed to DeKalb County Police officers to commemorate the department’s centennial. Photo by Andrew Cauthen 64 116 DCHAMPIONNEWSPAPER QCHAMPIONNEWS gCHAMPIONNEWSPAPER ©CHAMPNEWSPAPER