Atlanta schools will hire 55 police officers

Atlanta Public Schools plans to hire 55 police officers and fill other law enforcement positions in the coming weeks.

It's part of the district's move to replace the city police officers working in schools now with its own, in-house force of officers directly accountable to the district.

In addition to the school resource officers, the school district is also looking for a police chief and other supervisors, investigators, dispatchers and others.

APS wants to hire officers interested in “serving as informal counselors and educators,” according to a written statement from the district.

The new department will launch by the start of the next school year.

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