Atlanta school district records show officers used some type of force — including pepper spray, stun guns and physical “takedowns” — in Atlanta schools 22 times last year.

The district uses contracted Atlanta police for school safety and security, but with the recent controversies over using “street” officers in classrooms, the school board is considering forming its own police force.

That would mean ending the district’s $5.6 million contract with the City of Atlanta.

Mayor Kasim Reed’s spokesman called it “a terrible decision.”

About the Author

Keep Reading

Corbitt VanDuzer, 6, strikes a pose for her mother, teacher Kathryn VanDuzer, before her first day of first grade at Glennwood Elementary School in Decatur, Ga., on Tuesday, July 30, 2024. (Seeger Gray/AJC)

Credit: Seeger Gray / AJC

Featured

People carrying a giant pride flag participate in the annual Pride Parade in Atlanta on Sunday, Oct. 13, 2024. (Miguel Martinez/AJC)

Credit: Miguel Martinez-Jimenez