Atlanta Police Department denies rumors of officer walkouts
Interim Atlanta Police Chief Rodney Bryant speaks to the Associated Press on Thursday, June 18, 2020, in Atlanta. (AP Photo/Brynn Anderson)
OAN Newsroom
UPDATED 12:40 PM PT — Thursday, June 18, 2020
The Atlanta Police Department has refuted rumors regarding officers walking out on the job, but admitted to a higher number of call outs. Reports of protests came after two ex-officers were charged Wednesday in the death of Rayshard Brooks, just five days after his death.
Though there has been an increase in call outs, the department reassured they still have enough resources to keep the city safe.
Earlier suggestions that multiple officers from each zone had walked off the job were inaccurate. The department is experiencing a higher than usual number of call outs with the incoming shift. We have enough resources to maintain operations & remain able to respond to incidents.
— Atlanta Police Department (@Atlanta_Police) June 18, 2020
Brooks’ death prompted the resignation of Police Chief Erika Shields last week.
“How we behaved as an agency, as individuals, was unacceptable,” she said. “I know we caused further fear to you in a space that’s already so fearful for so many African Americans and I’m genuinely sorry.”
Statement from now former Atlanta Chief of Police Erika Shields #RayshardBrooks pic.twitter.com/OryzLGsBAs
— Lisa Hagen (@TwitrHagen) June 13, 2020
Fulton County District Attorney Paul Howard has stated his office deemed Brooks not a threat at the time of his death. The felony murder charge former Officer Garrett Rolfe is facing carries a life sentence in prison or the death penalty.