FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Council Communications
Atlanta City Hall
55 Trinity Ave. SW
Atlanta, GA 30303

August 21, 2025

Atlanta City Council Member Byron Amos Releases Data Following Discussions Between District 3 Communities and Local Law Enforcement Agencies

ATLANTA — District 3 Atlanta City Council member Byron Amos has released data and key points following discussions with Neighborhood Planning Units, community organizations, religious leaders, residents, and local law enforcement agencies.

The series titled "Let's Talk About It: Addressing the Barriers Between Law Enforcement and the Community" included three sessions with conversations outlining the perspectives and opinions of community members and law enforcement officials.

"We intended to create a space so that residents and law enforcement can feel comfortable asking questions and addressing concerns," said Council member Amos. "This systematic approach included an analysis to help continue building on the relationship between the community and law enforcement and exposing the realities that may have divided the groups involved in the sessions. The data we collected proved the meetings to be very useful in understanding the concerns of the communities and police agencies. I want to thank everyone for dedicating their time and fostering a commitment to improving the relationship between residents and our local police departments."

The sessions were moderated by Dr. Tammy Greer, Ph.D., a Clinical Assistant Professor and Director of the Undergraduate Program and BIS Social Entrepreneurship in the Public Management and Policy department in the Andrew Young School of Policy Studies at Georgia State University.

 "Moderating the “Let's Talk About It” series was a rewarding experience to see how the residents and public servants think and feel about their roles in our community,” said Dr. Greer. “It was great to see how much each group respects and appreciates the other to prove we all fundamentally want the same for our children, community, and city.  I am deeply honored to have been part of this important community-building series."

The first session included a focus group allowing District 3 community members to share their experiences and concerns on policing in the neighborhoods.

The second meeting's discussion allowed representatives from several police agencies, including the Atlanta Police, MARTA, Atlanta Public Schools, Georgia Tech, the Atlanta Police Leadership Institute, and Atlantic Station, to address their concerns and discuss day-to-day interactions with residents of the district.

The final discussion involved a roundtable conversation to explore ideas that will help improve interactions with residents and law enforcement. The survey administered after the sessions highlighted that 100 percent of respondents agreed that the discussions were practical, the parties involved wanted to strengthen their relationship, and to schedule another conversation.

Below is a list highlighting thought leadership topics, and concerns from police officials and community members:

• Residents want community-based policing and feel safe with their presence
• Cultural competency
• Community asked to be involved in the activities – "self-policing"
• Residents voiced that police were not needed for every situation
• Law enforcement officials noted the confusion between residents wanting police, then being upset or scared when police are involved, then wanting the police to continue to respond
• Both groups asked for a trusting relationship
• Familial relationship – regardless of how we feel daily, we can always come together
• Historical and systematic racism impacts on police and community relations
• Parents convey histories involving police to children, which could prompt children to disregard law enforcement and fuel the fear of police
• See us as 'human'
• Be more supportive and allow grace
• Not being judged before getting to know us
• Let good moments go viral
• Be aware of context and nuance
• Mutual respect
• The need for recognition for accomplishments

Community members requested and acknowledged:

• "Open door" policy for police officers like firefighters and fire stations
• More de-escalation for people with developmental, intellectual, and traumatic challenges
• Citizens to be allowed to interact and question officers to help with de-escalation
• Hire more officers – police may be understaffed, and some officers may be stressed or overworked
• Mental health services for officers dealing with trauma and aggression
• Not to be approached as 'criminals', approach as people in the community
• Police to be professional when dealing with someone who may not be professional
• Town hall meetings with police – more than with formal leaders in the community (with all age groups and non-leaders)
• Workshops (proactive programming to bridge the gap between police/community)
• Social media heavily influences how the community sees the police and how police see the community
• Community can do more to be proactive in knowing and building relationships with police
• Community members outnumber police

Law enforcement officials requested and acknowledged:

• "I'm a community member too.  I just put on this uniform."
• There are community programs, but not everyone in the community is taking advantage of them
• "Policing is evolving... we are developing accordingly… it takes time to adjust."
• Prefer to be called police instead of law enforcement. Every situation does not constitute law enforcement
• More than the uniform. Race, gender, sexual orientation, and background inform decisions
• All have biases based on the situation; the officer's approach may differ
• Social media heavily influences how the community sees the police
• Challenges in other communities shape how the community perceives the police in Atlanta. There are nuances and differences that the community does not understand
• Police can do more to communicate with the community to explain these high-profile situations proactively
• For community members to consider joining the police as a career

About Atlanta City Council
The Atlanta City Council is the chief policy-making body for the City of Atlanta. It acts by considering and enacting all laws that govern the city. The Council also approves the operating and capital budgets for the City as recommended by the mayor, and it continually monitors revenues and expenditures for local government operations. The Atlanta City Council reviews and decides on many land use and zoning matters. Major economic development projects for the City also fall under the Council’s jurisdiction.

The City Council is composed of 12 districts and three at-large posts. Council representatives are Council President: Doug Shipman; District 1: Jason Winston; District 2: Amir Farokhi; District 3: Byron Amos; District 4: Jason S. Dozier; District 5: Liliana Bakhtiari; District 6: Alex Wan; District 7: Howard Shook; District 8: Mary Norwood; District 9: Dustin Hillis; District 10: Andrea L. Boone; District 11: Marci Collier Overstreet; District 12: Antonio Lewis; Post 1 At-Large: Michael Julian Bond; Post 2 At-Large: Matt Westmoreland; and Post 3 At-Large: Eshé Collins.

To learn more about the Atlanta City Council, please visit http://citycouncil.atlantaga.gov/. For the latest updates, follow the Atlanta City Council on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

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Office of Council Communications Contacts:

Zena Lewis
zolewis@atlantaga.gov
404-330-6309 

William Doughty
wdoughty@atlantaga.gov
404-330-6056 

Tiffanie Kelly
trkelly@atlantaga.gov
404-330-6014