Atlanta Passes Police Strangulation Ban and Allows Citizen Review

07/07/2020 Business, Sports


The Atlanta City Council approved several police reform measures Monday, including banning stranglings and expanding the powers of the citizen review board.

These changes and recommendations come after weeks of criticism and protests of race-based police brutality across the country and here in Atlanta. The fired Atlanta police officer Garrett Rolfe is charged with serious murder along with 10 other charges of shooting and killing Rayshard Brooks, 27, in front of a Wendy’s on June 12. Rolfe was released Tuesday on $ 500,000 bail.

Council members on Monday strengthened the Atlanta Citizen Review Board, the independent body that reviews allegations of police misconduct.

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The board must now investigate and hold public hearings for all incidents related to the discharge of an officer’s firearm, stun gun, or Taser pistol when someone dies or is seriously injured, even when no allegations have been made of bad behavior.

But the Atlanta police are not bound by the board’s recommendations.

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Members of the public left messages for the council that were played during the public comment section of Monday’s meeting. The 13 hours and 31 minutes of public comment means that council members are expected to continue listening until 3:30 am on Tuesday.

Almost all of the messages revolved around dismissing the police. Some argued that the police have shown that public money cannot be trusted; Others said the deposed police would leave them insecure and reduce the tax base.