Atlanta Metropolis Council pushes for GSP pursuit reforms

The Atlanta Metropolis Council has adopted a decision urging reforms to the Georgia State Patrol’s vehicular pursuit insurance policies and the Atlanta Police Division’s protocols for requesting GSP backup.

The decision, sponsored by Councilmember Liliana Bakhtiari and adopted by the ocuncil on Monday, Could 5, urges the State of Georgia to implement reforms, together with the restriction of high-speed pursuits to violent felonies, the requirement of supervisory approval earlier than initiating or persevering with a pursuit, and the prohibition of PIT maneuvers in densely populated areas.

The decision was adopted following the demise of 19-year-old Cooper Schoenke, who was killed in April throughout a police chase in Little 5 Factors. GSP chased 23-year-old Faduma Mohamed after she refused to cease. Mohamed ran a crimson mild on the intersection of Moreland and McLendon Avenues and struck Schoenke’s automobile.

Within the days following the accident, neighborhood members, together with Bakhtiari and Devin Barrington-Ward with the Nationwide Police Accountability Challenge, advocated for the reforms.

“Our system of policing has been very aggressive in our space,” Councilmember Antonio Lewis stated at Monday’s assembly, “and [what happened to Schoenke] by no means ought to occur… Each condolence on this planet to [Schoenke’s] household, each prayer I can [send] to your loved ones, however we now have to cease this.”

The decision additional encourages Mayor Andre Dickens to advocate for these reforms and Police Chief Darin Schierbaum to conduct a assessment of APD’s present protocols for requesting help from GSP, particularly for non-violent visitors stops or infractions.

In keeping with nationwide information cited within the decision, multiple individual per day dies because of high-speed police pursuits. Twenty-seven to 33 % of these fatalities contain harmless bystanders.

Different objects authorized by the council on Monday embody ordinances offering continued athletic programming at Chastain Park and accepting $2.8 million in federal funding for the event of South Downtown pedestrian enhancements.