The Atlanta Police Department is facing a serious shortage of officers, which has caused the department to alter the way it responds to certain types of crimes during periods that heavy police presence is required. Specifically, during the 2018 NCAA Tournament Sweet Sixteen and Elite Eight games, the department informed store owners in the Buckhead area – one of the more affluent areas of Atlanta – that it would not be responding to all shoplifting occurrences, and that when it did, it would only send one officer, as opposed to the normal three or four.
The fact that the department is being forced to rank the importance of crimes in determining when to respond casts the officer shortage in a serious light. What it also does, however, is highlight the fact that when officers are overworked, they become more prone to mistakes and errors, which can undermine their authority as well as their ability to properly carry out an arrest and document evidence.
“Well-trained police officers are incredibly important, but also making sure that those officers always have a clear head when doing their job is just as important,” said Cory Yager, a criminal defense attorney with the law firm of Kohn & Yager in Atlanta. “These officers are relied upon to ensure that a suspect’s rights are respected, that any evidence that is collected is collected in the appropriate manner, and that their records and reports are correct. A misstep in any of these places could prove problematic for the authorities in proving their case, or for a defendant in proving his or her innocence.”
Local officials have indicated that they understand the department’s decision to prioritize its responses based on the type of crime. However, the public – and especially individuals affected – may not be so understanding. “People want to believe that justice will be dispensed evenly and fairly and being told that your crime isn’t important enough is tough to swallow,” said Yager.
According to reporting, Atlanta Police intend to resume normal response procedures following the end of the NCAA Tournament. However, it does not eliminate the concerns about short-staffed precincts and overworked officers. Until new officers are added to the force, the same concerns will remain.
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