New Policy: Atlanta PD to Report Force Incidents in 24 Hours

In a significant move to enhance transparency and accountability, the Atlanta Police Department (APD) will now be required to report officer-involved shootings and other use-of-force incidents to the city’s Citizen Review Board within 24 hours. As reported by 11Alive, this policy is part of a new memorandum of understanding between APD and the review board, presented to the City Council’s Public Safety Committee on Monday.

The agreement, which does not require City Council approval, is the result of six months of negotiations. It follows reports that the Citizen Review Board had failed to investigate numerous deadly force cases since 2020. Lee Reid, the board’s executive director, confirmed that the policy is ready for immediate implementation.

Under the new guidelines, APD must report incidents such as officer-involved shootings, deaths in custody, serious bodily injuries in custody, and firearm discharges within the 24-hour window. Additionally, the department will notify the board when internal use-of-force disciplinary cases are closed. In return, the board will provide its recommendations on disciplinary actions to the police chief, the mayor’s chief of staff, and the City Council within three days.

If APD’s disciplinary decisions differ from the board’s recommendations, the department must provide a written explanation detailing the reasons, including any mitigating factors or new evidence.

The Citizen Review Board, established in 2007 and comprising 15 members, will also take on new responsibilities. These include attending the Citizens Police Academy and observing officer training sessions on use-of-force scenarios. Regular communication between the board and APD will be prioritized, with the police chief attending review board meetings.

Reid emphasized that the new policy aims to prevent use-of-force cases from being overlooked. He noted that the board was often unaware of incidents due to the lack of signed complaints. “These were incidents happening in the community that we were not aware of,” Reid explained.

While the City Council will not vote on the memorandum, members will have the opportunity to review and suggest improvements. This policy marks a critical step toward rebuilding trust between law enforcement and the Atlanta community.