It was a close Atlanta City Council vote Saturday on the Atlanta Police Department’s fiscal year 2021 budget in the wake of recent looting, riots and the Wendy’s police officer shooting of a black man who resisted arrest and tried to escape. By a vote of seven to eight, the Council refused to remove $73 million in funding for the APD until its mission and practices could be “reimagined.”
Seven voting “yes” to take away the money and put it in a “holding account” were Council members Carla Smith (Dist. 1), Amir Farokhi (Dist. 2, Antonio Brown (Dist. 3) Natalyn Archibong (Dist.5), Jennifer Ide (Dist. 6), Matt Westmoreland (Post 2-at large), and Andre Dickens (Post 3-at large). The eight voting not to transfer the money away were Cleta Winslow (Dist. 4), Howard Shook (Dist. 7), J.P. Matzigkeit (Dist. 8), Dustin Hillis (Dist. 9), Andrea Boone (Dist. 10) , Marci Collier Overstreet (Dist. 11), Joyce Sheperd (Dist. 12) and Michael Julian Bond (Post 1, at-large).
At the same time new Acting Police Chief Rodney Bryant, dealing with sickouts by disgusted officers who feel they are not supported by Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms and District Attorney Paul Howard, says “reforms” are coming with regard to internal investigations and training regimen– including emphasizing “de-escalation” during arrests.
Former APD Deputy Chief Hits the Atlanta Paper
A respected law enforcement voice is taking to task an Atlanta Journal-Constitution editorial he describes as “unbelievable” in a letter sent to friends and InsiderAdvantage. Lou Arcangeli especially takes issue with this AJC “advice”:…”force at time has to be applied in the interest of public safety. But is wisely used only as a last resort and only after efforts at deescalating conflicts fail. It seems reasonable to wonder whether the conflict that led to Brooks death could have been avoided.”
Here are excerpts of Arcangeli’s letter:
“So allow me to pose a serious question to the AJC editorial board: Please explain at what point, during the 28 seconds after convicted felon Rayshard Brooks violently attacked two police officers, fought them for their weapons, delivered blows that resulted in a concussion to one officer, forcibly grabbed a taser and then tried to escape while shooting the taser at the pursuing officer, would the police experts at the AJC editorial board have applied “efforts at deescalating” the encounter?
“The bias, willful ignorance, and the deliberate withholding of critical background information by the editorial board of the AJC is reprehensible and constitutes propaganda. I define propaganda as the deliberate use of lies and misinformation, or as in this case the deliberate withholding of information, to achieve a political agenda …
“Multiple internet sources have reported Brooks past criminal arrests for 5 days now. CNN has released information confirming Rayshard Brooks was a convicted felon by airing an interview Brooks gave as a newly released felon in which described the difficulties of re-entry after serving time in prison, and glossing over his long record of arrests: including arrests for child cruelty and obstruction of officers.
“Of course we know none of these details because the Atlanta newspaper of record, the AJC, has reported NOTHING. Seven days of reporting- still no mention of Brook’s violent past. SEVEN days of AJC news (and ALL local media) and we have been led to believe Rayshard Brooks was a family man. And yet since Monday sources on the internet they been reporting his arrest for child cruelty, theft, felony cruelty, speeding and family violence. I haven’t confirmed this information because the Atlanta Journal and Constitution has reported none of it. I have brought this to the attention of Kevin Riley at AJC with no response or results.
“Please note I’m not implying that Brooks deserved to be shot because of the extensive criminal arrest record, rather the AJC has portrayed him as a victim in an event that BROOKS caused.
“The incendiary and irresponsible nature of the AJC’s opinion board is false, irresponsible and inflammatory. Based on what we have read and watched on CNN, Rayshard Brooks was obviously a nice guy, and by making amends with his family, getting in touch with his father Brooks may have been on a path to redemption…or not. However, Brooks’ criminal arrest history demonstrates that he had serious violence, impulse control and anger issues, and as an ex-convict was very motivated not to be arrested, thus explaining the irrationality and violence of his attack on police. If Brooks was on parole, a DUI arrest would immediately return him to prison, and that could explain his impulsive and irrational attempt to escape the DUI arrest. We rely on the AJC for complete information– they failed.
“The Atlanta Police officers were clearly not prepared for the ferocity of Brooks’ resistance and subsequent attack. I’m also upset with the AJC for using the word “tussled.” AJC reported that Brooks “tussled” with the officers. What I saw on the videos was not a “tussle.” Brooks threw them to the ground, attacked them with his fists, tried to take their weapons and actually took a taser and, while running away, fired on the officer.
“By this time millions of people have been exposed to this misinformation. Including the information on Rayshard Brooks’ violent past could help readers understand his motivations leading to his death. Atlanta deserves better. …”
