At least 85 active Atlanta police officers were deficient in their state-mandated training and had lost arrest powers, and that could affect cases already prosecuted as well as those pending.
Some of them had gaps in their training as far back as two decades, according to an APD audit.
The problem was discovered a year ago by training academy staff reviewing the files of officers returning to duty after being away for extended periods. The review was then expanded to cover all 1,816 sworn officers.
Since 1990, state law has required all law enforcement officers get at least 20 hours of training each year in classes covering policies, work-related computer programs or forms officers must fill out. Beginning in 2006, the state said at least one of those hours must be on the use of firearms and another hour must focus on use of force. According to the audit, 55 officers did not complete the firearms or use of force training in at least one year.
Most of them have made up the training and since secured a waiver from the Peace Officers Standards and Training Council to reinstate their authority to make arrests.
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