Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms issued an Administrative Order to procure services to conduct citywide engagement for a comprehensive examination of policing in the city of Atlanta. This community engagement process will bring a diversity of voices to the table to gain public input on policies of the Atlanta Police Department (APD), as well as the attributes and qualities desired in City public safety leadership.

“Recent events have shown the need for an evolution in how Atlanta enforces the law within our communities,” said Mayor Bottoms. “Across the country, there is a cultural shift that in the end will make us stronger—but only if residents, law enforcement, and stakeholders alike shift forward together.”

Last week, Mayor Bottoms received the Use of Force Advisory Council’s 14-day recommendations as mandated in Administrative Order 2020-18. The Advisory Council provided 10 early action recommendations to Mayor Bottoms spanning three focus areas: Law and Policy, Police Culture and Mindsets, and Community and Partnerships.

Upon receiving the Advisory Council’s recommendations, Mayor Bottoms immediately acted upon three of the 10 recommendations by issuing three Administrative Orders and a letter to the Atlanta Citizen Review Board (ACRB). The remaining seven recommendations are under legal and operational review by Mayor Bottoms’ Administration to determine further action.

The recommendations that have been adopted and acted upon by the Administration are:

• Commit to identifying policies to improve officer compliance and public transparency of captured body-worn camera footage,

• Create a centralized repository for witness footage of the use of force by officers, and

• Extend powers and community awareness of the Atlanta Citizen Review Board (ACRB).

In the coming weeks, the Advisory Council will submit its 45-day recommendations.