Ten years ago Fulton County commissioners required themselves to file a police report citing a specific threat against them to prove they needed police protection. It was a move designed to curb abuses by commissioners who used police to chauffeur them to public events.
Today, commissioners discussed a proposal that would revoking that requirement, but postponed a decision until they can gather more information.
The move comes just weeks after an Atlanta Journal-Constitution showed commissioners have received rides from on-duty police officers scores of times in recent years without filing police reports to justify the practice. The newspaper also found evidence the rides are more about convenient transportation than protection for commissioners.
In response to questions raised by the newspaper, Commissioner Robb Pitts has introduced a resolution that would eliminate the requirement for commissioners to file a police report. The rationale: police reports might reveal information about threats that could endanger commissioners.
The resolution would allow commissioners to report threats orally or in writing. It would still require the police department to document the rides commissioners get. As in the past, the department would be required to evaluate threats and determine if commissioners need police escorts.
The current county policy prohibits commissioners from using police for transportation unless they document a threat against them in a police report. Commissioners approved the policy in 2004 amid a public backlash against commissioners treating police officers like chauffeurs.
Police Chief Cassandra Jones has said that “may be a good political policy, but it’s not a good public safety policy.” She said commissioners face regular threats from angry individuals and she needs a more flexible policy to protect them.
Critics say commissioners are wasting taxpayer resources if they can’t demonstrate a legitimate threat to their safety to justify the police rides.
Chairman John Eaves asked the county staff to gather information on how other local governments handle police protection and transportation of elected officials. Commissioners tabled the issue until they receive that information.
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