Atlanta Police Department
Atlanta Police Department | |
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![]() | |
Motto | Resurgens Rising Again |
Agency overview | |
Formed | 1873 |
Annual budget | $20,881,173 (2018) |
Jurisdictional structure | |
Operations jurisdiction | Atlanta, Georgia, U.S. |
Legal jurisdiction | City of Atlanta |
Operational structure | |
Officers | 1,700 |
Unsworn members | 223 |
Agency executive | |
Facilities | |
Zones | 7
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Jails | 3 |
Website | |
Atlanta Police Department |
The Atlanta Police Department is a law enforcement agency in the city of Atlanta, Georgia, U.S.
The city shifted from its rural-based Marshal and Deputy Marshal model at the end of the 19th century. In 1873, the department was formed with 26 officers. Thomas Jones was elected the first Atlanta Chief of Police by the city council.
The 1,700+ officer force[1] is led by Chief of Police Erika Shields.
Ranks and insignia
Title | Insignia |
---|---|
Chief of Police | ![]() |
Assistant Chief | ![]() |
Deputy Chief | ![]() |
Major | ![]() |
Captain | ![]() |
Lieutenant | ![]() |
Sergeant | ![]() |
Investigator, Senior Patrol Officer (SPO) | ![]() |
Police Officer | ![]() |
Corrections
The Atlanta Police Department works with the City of Atlanta Corrections Department, which operates three jails:
Jail | Type of inmate |
---|---|
City Detention Center | Pretrial arrestees, sentenced ordinance and traffic offenders and custody of federal prisoners awaiting trial pursuant to a contract with the U.S. Marshals Service |
Grady Detention Center | Custodial services patients at the general hospital (Grady Memorial Hospital) |
Court Detention Center | Prisoner movements for judicial proceedings in the Municipal Court |
Demographics
Breakdown of the makeup of the rank and file of APD:[2]
- Male: 82%
- Female: 18%
- African American/Black: 58%
- Caucasian/ White: 37%
- Hispanic: 4%
- Asian: 1%
Controversies
A federal investigation was conducted into the Atlanta Police Department's practices after the 2006 killing of 92-year-old Kathryn Johnston, who shot at officers as they entered her home unannounced on a no-knock warrant. Prosecutors alleged that the officers falsified information and documents after the killing to justify the serving of the warrant. On April 26, 2007, two officers pleaded guilty to manslaughter, violation of oath, criminal solicitation, and making false statements. One additionally pleaded guilty to perjury.[3]
On July 8, 2011, it was reported in The Atlanta Journal-Constitution that six police officers were fired for lying about events concerning a raid on the Atlanta Eagle Bar (which catered to gay persons). In June 2011, a 343-page report was released that details how 16 officers lied or destroyed evidence when asked about the raid on the Eagle Bar. At least two of the officers in question had been cited for lying on another occasion in a federal drug case in October 2009 (the federal prosecutors informed the Atlanta Police Department that they would never be used again in a federal prosecution).[4]
On April 8, 2011, APD officers shot a 64-year-old U.S. Marine veteran who had fired several shots at the ground in front of a man who was stealing from him, which was a frequent occurrence.[5] He lost his kidney, and while he was eventually released from prison in early November after prosecutors finally dropped charges—after threatening him with 105 years in prison[5]—his home and that of his deceased father had been looted and burnt by criminals who stole almost all his personal and business possessions.[5][6] APD officers claimed Sturdivant pointed his rifle at the officers, who never identified themselves, a point disputed by Sturdivant's public defender given that the one bullet of the 14 officers fired that actually hit him, traveled through the side of the rifle's stock.[5]
Equipment used by the Atlanta Police Department
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/7/72/Atlanta_Police_GA_USA_-_Ford_Crown_Victoria_%281%29.jpg/220px-Atlanta_Police_GA_USA_-_Ford_Crown_Victoria_%281%29.jpg)
Vehicles: Ford Police Interceptor equipped with state-of-the-art Whelen LED Lighting packages and digital control consoles along with Panasonic Toughbook Mobile Data Terminals. The Atlanta Police Department is currently reviewing the new Dodge Charger, Chevy Caprice, and Ford Taurus Police Interceptor packages for suitable replacement to the discontinued Ford Crown Victoria. Due to heavy wear and tear only all wheel drive or rear wheel drive vehicles are considered. In fall 2013, the Atlanta Police Department began phasing 70 new Ford Taurus Police interceptors into its fleet to replace the old Crown Victoria interceptors. The entire fleet totals around 300 vehicles and the remaining Crown Victoria interceptors will be phased out as they lose usefulness. The remaining 230 Crown Victoria interceptors will be replaced by Taurus interceptors over time.[7]
Communications: Motorola Digital 800 MHz Trunking system that is one of the largest in the country and utilizes 24 channels. This system provides voice and data communications for the Atlanta Police, Fire, Watershed, Corrections and other Municipal Departments. The Atlanta Police Radio System also provides voice and data communications for the Georgia State Patrol inside of the Atlanta Metropolitan area and the City of Hapeville, The City of East Point, and the City of College Park.
Weapons: Smith & Wesson M&P .40 S&W; to be replaced by the Glock 22[8].[9] In July 2013 Glock secured a contract with the Atlanta Police Department for an order of 2300 full size Glock 22 Generation 4s to replace the Smith & Wesson M&P .40. This breaks a 70+ year relationship between Smith & Wesson and the APD. The Glock 22 was being phased into service within the department over time. The Glock 22 is chambered in the .40 caliber Smith & Wesson round like the M&P that it replaces. APD SWAT adopted the full size Glock 21 Gen 4 due to mission-specific requirements that favor the .45 ACP round over the .40 S&W round.[10] As of 2015, the department again transitioned to another 9mm handgun, the Glock 17 Gen 4, phasing out the .40 S&W Glock 22. The reason for this was modern 9x19mm bullet effectiveness and the fact 9mm puts less wear on the gun's components due to lower pressures compared to .40 S&W. The APD has standardized Winchester PDX1 147 grain 9mm ammunition.
The APD also trains and issues the AR-15 to many of its patrol officers to aid in tactical situations where a pistol and shotgun are out matched.
Police patrol zones of Atlanta
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/c/cb/Atlanta_Police_Zones_-_Feb_2013.jpg/220px-Atlanta_Police_Zones_-_Feb_2013.jpg)
In the City of Atlanta, there are six "patrol zones" (more commonly known as just "zones") which lie under the jurisdiction of the Field Operations Division of the Atlanta Police Department.[11][12]
Zones and constituent neighborhoods
Zone 1 covers the city's northwest side, west of Downtown Atlanta and north of I-20. Zone 2 covers all of the city's northern area. The Zone 3 area is located on the south/southeast and parts of southwest side of the city. The Zone 4 area is located on the southwest side of Atlanta. Zone 5 encompasses the central portion of APD's jurisdiction. Zone 6 includes all but the northernmost part of Atlanta's Eastside.
See also
- Atlanta Chief of Police
- Containment (TV series), Zone 6 is placed under cordon sanitaire to prevent the spread of a deadly, highly contagious, bioengineered virus
- List of law enforcement agencies in Georgia
References
- ^ FOX. "Atlanta Police facing critical manpower shortage". WAGA. Retrieved 2018-12-29.
- ^ "US Dept. of Labor" (PDF). www.dol.gov. 2016. Retrieved 2018-12-29.
{{cite web}}
: Cite has empty unknown parameter:|dead-url=
(help) - ^ "Police officer, ex-officer plead guilty in woman's killing". Associated Press. 2007-04-26. Archived from the original on May 19, 2007.
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(help) - ^ a b c d Rhonda Cook (10 November 2011). "Man facing 105 years in prison for shooting at would-be thief". The Atlanta Journal-Constitution.
- ^ Rhonda Cook (11 November 2011). "Charges dropped against veteran". The Atlanta Journal-Constitution.
- ^ Eloy, Michell. "APD Rolls Out New Patrol Cars". Retrieved 2017-08-27.
- ^ "GLOCK USA :: GLOCK Secures Atlanta Police Department as Newest Law Enforcement Customer". us.glock.com. Retrieved 2017-08-27.
- ^ Smith & Wesson advertisement in Sept. 2010 issue of Tactical Weapons magazine.
- ^ "GLOCK USA :: GLOCK Secures Atlanta Police Department as Newest Law Enforcement Customer". us.glock.com. Retrieved 2017-08-27.
- ^ Atlanta Police Department Field Operations Division
- ^ "Find My Zone". Atlanta Police Department. Archived from the original on 2017-08-27.
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