By John Schaffner
editor@reporternewspapers.net
Mayor Kasim Reed and acting Police Chief George Turner announced a reorganization of the Atlanta Police Department’s command staff on the mayor’s first full day in office, Jan. 5, promoting several long-time leaders to new positions to boost morale.
The moves included promoting Peter Andresen from deputy of field operations to assistant chief, Ernest Findley from Zone 3 commander to deputy of field operations, Calvin Moss from the special operations center to deputy chief of criminal investigations and Shown Jones from the airport unit to deputy chief of the support services division.
Some of the people who held those positions in the past several years left the department with former Chief Richard Pennington. Other changes were described as lateral moves.
One community unhappy with the Atlanta Police promotions asked Turner to hold off on removing Major Renee Propes as commander of Zone 6 in southeast Atlanta and sending her to head the airport precinct.
“We believe it is too destabilizing to move Major Propes,” City Councilwoman Natalyn Archibong said. “We ask that the decision be deferred at least six months, or until a permanent police chief be named.”
Turner said he could not meet the residents’ request.
It has not yet been determined if Turner will get the chief job permanently. Reed is conducting a nationwide search for chief and wants to hire someone within 120 days.