The city’s police oversight committee, the Atlanta Citizens Review Board, will begin receiving notice of officer-involved shootings, death or serious bodily harm while in custody, and firearm discharges within 24 hours following a new agreement with city leaders.
The ACRB has been under scrutiny for failing to review or hold public hearings on 39 deadly force cases since 2020, according to an investigation earlier this year by the Atlanta Journal-Constitution. The Atlanta Police Department (APD) also failed to report at least seven incidents to the review board over the last four years, the AJC reported.
On July 15, Mayor Andre Dickens’ office issued a “memorandum of understanding (MOU)” outlining an agreement between the board, APD, and the mayor’s office.
The press release said the agreement outlines “a stronger, more transparent framework for collaboration between APD and the ACRB” and “empowers the ACRB to thoroughly review incidents and provide informed recommendations on officer conduct, policy improvements, and training enhancements.”
Part of the agreement includes that APD and ACRB will meet annually, quarterly, monthly, and bi-weekly to provide updates and revisit the scope of the MOU.
While the investigative process for serious use-of-force incidents will still require time and care, this agreement lays the groundwork for a more responsive and ethical system of police oversight in Atlanta, the release said.
“This MOU is about more than process, it’s about purpose,” APD Chief Darin Schierbaum said in the release. “We welcome the role of civilian oversight and look forward to continued partnership with the ACRB as we work together to strengthen public trust and ensure accountability.”
The ACRB was created by city ordinance in 2007, and its members are appointed by the mayor, the Atlanta City Council, neighborhood planning units, and local business entities.
A summary of the MOU’s key provisions is below:
