Cobb County Manager David Hankerson on Tuesday acknowledged that the county police department may need more officers when the new Atlanta Braves stadium and entertainment district open in 2017.
How many more isn’t clear, and Hankerson said the county will be working with the Braves to determine that over the next weeks and months.
Hankerson made his comments moments after the Cobb Commission voted unanimously in support of hiring Fire Chief Sam Heaton to replace Jack Forsythe as the county’s public safety director in charge of the police and fire departments, 911 operations and the Sheriff’s Office.
“I anticipate there being a need for more officers,” Hankerson said. “It is our intent to get the new public safety director together with the Braves … and put that plan together to determine what additional staff we need.”
Forsythe resigned last week with a stinging four-page letter that said the county police department was in a near “crisis” because it is understaffed and has trouble attracting and retaining qualified officers.
Forsythe said in the letter that Hankerson has continually stonewalled his desire to have a strength of force study performed that would prove the department is understaffed by about 100 officers.
“I have come to realize that no matter what information I have provided to you in the past or will provide to you in the future, history has proven that short of some catastrophic event, you as county manager will continue to deny or take no immediate action on behalf of the county to move forward with the recommended public safety enhancements,” Forsythe said in the letter.
The department is approved for 609 officers, but currently has a force of 569, with 55 cadets in various stages of training.
Addressing the issue for the first time Tuesday, Hankerson denied impeding Forsythe.
“I’m not a manager that throws up roadblocks,” Hankerson said. “(But) I’m not going to get into specifics.”
Hankerson said the police department typically loses 40 to 50 officers per year, but last year the number jumped to 71. The manager said he’s not sure why, but the new public safety director will have free reign in trying to find that answer.
Heaton’s promotion means the county will need to hire a new fire chief.
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