Atlanta City Council urges Georgia State Patrol to reform pursuit policies
The Atlanta City Council has adopted a resolution urging reforms to the Georgia State Patrol’s vehicular pursuit policies and the Atlanta Police Department’s protocols for requesting GSP backup.
The resolution, sponsored by Councilmember Liliana Bakhtiari and adopted by the ocuncil on Monday, May 5, urges the State of Georgia to implement reforms, including the restriction of high-speed pursuits to violent felonies, the requirement of supervisory approval before initiating or continuing a pursuit, and the prohibition of PIT maneuvers in densely populated areas.
The resolution was adopted following the death of 19-year-old Cooper Schoenke, who was killed in April during a police chase in Little Five Points. GSP chased 23-year-old Faduma Mohamed after she refused to stop. Mohamed ran a red light at the intersection of Moreland and McLendon Avenues and struck Schoenke’s car.
In the days following the accident, community members, including Bakhtiari and Devin Barrington-Ward with the National Police Accountability Project, advocated for the reforms.
“Our system of policing has been very aggressive in our area,” Councilmember Antonio Lewis said at Monday’s meeting, “and [what happened to Schoenke] never should happen… Every condolence in the world to [Schoenke’s] family, every prayer I can [send] to your family, but we have to stop this.”
The resolution further encourages Mayor Andre Dickens to advocate for these reforms and Police Chief Darin Schierbaum to conduct a review of APD’s current protocols for requesting support from GSP, especially for non-violent traffic stops or infractions.
According to national data cited in the resolution, more than one person per day dies as a result of high-speed police pursuits. Twenty-seven to 33 percent of those fatalities involve innocent bystanders.
Other items approved by the council on Monday include ordinances providing continued athletic programming at Chastain Park and accepting $2.8 million in federal funding for the development of South Downtown pedestrian enhancements.
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