By John Schaffner
johnschaffner@reporternewspapers.net
The Buckhead Business Association presented its quarterly public safety awards to Atlanta Police Zone 2 investigator Ken Allen and Fulton Sheriff’s Department detention Officer Timothy Grant.
Allen received his award for a lengthy investigation of an alleged child predator that led to a guilty plea by a 45-year-old man in July and the subsequent sentencing of the man to eight years in prison with 20 years of intense supervision upon release.
Allen learned that the man passed child pornography through his computer and brought him in for questioning. According to the police reports, the man admitted an addiction to child pornography, which resulted in a search of his computer. Police found pictures on the computer of young girls at a neighborhood Halloween party.
Allen got the Federal Bureau of Investigation involved in the case through its Project Safe Childhood, and the man was prosecuted by the U.S. Attorney’s office.
Zone 2 Commander Maj. Robert Browning accepted the award for Allen at the BBA’s quarterly luncheon meeting at 103 West events facility on Oct. 21.
Grant received his award at the luncheon for his actions in August during a scuffle with inmates at the Fulton County Jail. He was stabbed in the back.
While performing a routine security check in the maximum security section of the jail, Grant was assaulted by two inmates, one of whom stabbed the officer. Despite his wound, Grand subdued the attackers and kept order in the zone until backup officers arrived. He was treated for the wound and returned to work later that evening.
The awards were presented at the luncheon by BBA Vice President for Public Safety Brian Daughdrill and BBA President Heather Wright.