Tag: Atlanta Police Department

DA Fani Willis Boasts Fulton County Safer than Four Years Ago Despite Increasing Crime Statistics

Debra McClure
Fani Willis

A new campaign ad for District Attorney Fani Willis says that Fulton County is safer now than it was four years ago. However, year-end data from the Atlanta Police Department shows that crime rates have increased in southwest Atlanta and that car theft continues to skyrocket. Willis released the campaign ad on Monday. 

In a post on the X platform, the campaign ad for Willis, currently running for re-election, states, “The last four years, we’ve made Fulton County safer for everyone — and we’re just getting started.”

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Midtown Atlanta QuikTrip Closing Partially Due to Customer and Employee Safety Concerns

Debra McClure
QuikTrip

The first non-gas QuikTrip store on Peachtree Street in Midtown Atlanta is closing in May partially due to concerns about the safety of customers and employees, the company said.

QuikTrip (QT) Corporate Communications Manager Aisha Jefferson told The Georgia Star News last week, “It’s critically important to us that every location across our 1,000 [plus] store footprint nationwide delivers the in-store experience that QT customers have come to know, love, and expect.”

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Atlanta Public Safety Training Center Slated to Open January 2025 Despite Opposition

Tom Pappert
Atlanta Public Safety Training Center

The Atlanta Police Department (APD) confirmed on Monday that the controversial Atlanta Public Safety Training Center is slated to open in January 2025 despite years of protests, demonstrations and violence aimed at preventing its construction.

A video posted to the social media platform X by APD on Monday showed former Chief Rodney Bryant and former Assitant Chief Todd Coyt viewing the site of the safety training center. Bryant was previously instrumental in pushing for the center.

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Atlanta Saw Less Violent Crime in 2023, but Vehicle Thefts and Shoplifting Skyrocketed

Tom Pappert
Mayor Dickens

Atlanta Mayor Andre Dickens and Police Chief Darin Schierbaum held a joint press conference on Thursday to detail what they identified as a downward trend in crime within the city, but preliminary numbers published by the Atlanta Police Department (APD) in December 2023 reveal that not all types of crime are declining.

Dickens said during the press conference that the “major crime against people” was “down more than 15 percent,” with homicides down about 20 percent and rapes down about 50 percent since 2022.

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Atlanta Police Arrest Protesters Who Chained Themselves to Construction Equipment at the Future Public Safety Training Center

Kaitlin Housler

The Atlanta Police Department (APD) announced Thursday that five individuals were arrested after trespassing onto the site of the City of Atlanta’s future Public Safety Training Center and chaining themselves to a piece of construction equipment.

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Atlanta Police Increase Reward to $60,000 In Search for Group Responsible for Arson Attack on Public Safety Training Center

Kaitlin Housler

Atlanta Police Chief Darin Schierbaum held a press conference on Tuesday announcing an increase to the cash reward in the search for a “very small group of extremists” responsible for a series of arson attacks across the city.

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Georgia Lawmaker Wants Tougher Penalties for Setting Fire to Police Vehicles

The Center Square

A Georgia lawmaker wants to increase the penalties for anyone who sets a law enforcement vehicle on fire.

Rep. Deborah Silcox, R-Sandy Springs, announced a renewed push for House Bill 500 when lawmakers return in January. The announcement comes after vandals set fire to law enforcement motorcycles parked at an Atlanta Police Department facility on Southside Industrial Parkway that is home to the Atlanta Police Training Academy and its special operations precinct.

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Atlanta Police Arrest Person Accused of Throwing Spoiled Meat at Officers During Protest

Kaitlin Housler

One individual was arrested for throwing spoiled meat at Atlanta police officers during a protest against the Atlanta Public Safety Training Center on Wednesday, the Atlanta Police Department (APD) announced in a press release.

The Atlanta City Council approved the training center in September 2021, and it has been a source of controversy ever since.

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Buckhead City Movement Opposition Peter Aman Named Chief Administrative Police Officer

Addison Basurto

Atlanta Police Interim Chief Darin Schierbaum and Atlanta Mayor Andre Dickens announced on Thursday that former City of Atlanta Chief Operating Officer Peter Aman would be the first ever chief Administrative Officer (CAO) of the Atlanta Police Department (APD).

“I created the Chief Administrative Officer position to ensure that the personnel of the Atlanta Police Department have the best tools and support as they fight crime and serve our community,” Mayor Dickens said.

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Buckhead Public Safety Task Force Issues Final Report, Plan to Halt Crime

Addison Basurto

The Buckhead Public Safety Task Force (Legislative Reference No. 22-R-3001) issued its final report on Friday, with recommendations and a plan to curb crime in the northernmost Atlanta district, wherein the city stated a new police precinct will open up in June.

“Task Force participants were able to hear from a broad spectrum of public safety stakeholders, and I look forward to seeing that expertise translated into a meaningful action plan,” said District 7 Council member Howard Shook.

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Atlanta Police Detail Summer Safety Plan for City

Peter D'Abrosca

Atlanta’s Mayor and newly-promoted Interim Police Chief held a press conference Tuesday to detail a plan to handle an expected uptick in crime in the city this summer. 

“We invited you here today to discuss the city’s collective Summer Safety Plan to keep our residents, visitors and business community safe over the next few months,” Mayor Andre Dickens (D) said. “Historically and across the nation, we know that data has shown a reliable uptick in crime during the summer months for a variety of reasons. This is why we’re standing here today to update you on our holistic approach to keep our community safe.” 

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Buckhead City Committee Leader Says His Inside Sources Contradict Information Put Out by Atlanta Mayor and Police Department

Chris Butler

Staff for Atlanta Mayor Andre Dickens and the Atlanta Police Department (APD) accused Buckhead City Committee leader Bill White of misinforming the public about alleged corruption and mismanagement practices within their agencies. White told The Georgia Star News on Friday that several APD sources feed him information and that those sources are reliable. White said he knows those sources’ identifies, but he will keep them anonymous.

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Atlanta’s Rising Crime Rate to Get Scrutiny from Georgia Legislators

Chris Butler

Members of the Georgia House Public Safety and Homeland Security Committee are scheduled to meet Monday to address Atlanta’s rising rates of crime. State Rep. J. Collins (R-Villa Rica) chairs the committee. Those committee members are scheduled to meet at 11 a.m. Monday, July 19, in Room 406 of the Coverdell Legislative Office Building in Atlanta.

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Buckhead Grapples With Another Violent Weekend as City Officials Campaign to Leave Atlanta

Chris Butler
View of Buckhead, Georgia

Buckhead, already trying to formally break away from the City of Atlanta so they can address an out-of-control crime wave using their own resources, had another violent weekend, including a murder. According to the Atlanta Police Department’s (APD’s) website, someone shot a man Saturday as he jogged through the 1200 block of West Wesley Road in Buckhead.

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Atlanta City Council Member Who Tried to Defund the Police Loses Mercedes to Child Car Thieves

Chris Butler

An Atlanta City Council member who tried to defund the police of millions of dollars last year called 911 Wednesday to report that four people stole his 2016 Mercedes. That man, Antonio Brown, told a 911 dispatcher the car thieves consisted of four children.

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Atlanta Mayor Keisha Bottoms Won’t Seek Reelection as City Uncertain About Public Safety

Chris Butler

This week Atlanta Mayor Keisha Bottoms announced she will not seek reelection. This, while Atlanta’s crime rate remains high and a new report explored why members of the Atlanta Police Department (APD) have difficulties hiring and retaining employees.

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Atlanta Mayor Keisha Bottoms Won’t Seek Reelection as City Uncertain About Public Safety

Chris Butler

This week Atlanta Mayor Keisha Bottoms announced she will not seek reelection. This, while Atlanta’s crime rate remains high and a new report explored why members of the Atlanta Police Department (APD) have difficulties hiring and retaining employees.

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Man Arrested with Six Guns in Atlanta Grocery Store

Peter D'Abrosca

A day after a man in Colorado was charged with 10 counts of first-degree murder after opening fire in a grocery store, a man was arrested in Atlanta after bringing six guns and body armor into a Publix. 

“Preliminary investigation indicates the male entered the location openly carrying a rifle and entered the bathroom,” according to the Atlanta Police Department (APD). “A witness observed the male and alerted store management who then notified police. When the male exited the bathroom, arriving units immediately detained the male.”

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