Embattled Atlanta Police Chief Richard Pennington confirmed Tuesday what has been widely reported, announcing his resignation, effective at the end of the year.
His top deputy, Alan Dreher, announced he would be also leaving the department, effective Dec. 8 for him. The veteran cops had worked together previously in Washington, D.C. Pennington brought Dreher to Atlanta as the No. 2 in command when he became chief. Dreher had been a district commander for the D.C. police department.
"I've been privileged to work with both of them," said Mayor Shirley Franklin Tuesday at a press conference attended by both men. "They've brought reform and professionalism to the police department."
Franklin hired Pennington away from the New Orleans Police Department in May 2002 after a five-month search. While serving as New Orleans' top cop Pennington was credited with cleaning up a department riddled with corruption. Under his tenure, more than 350 police officers were indicted, fired or disciplined for misconduct. He also oversaw a dramatic reduction in crime; by 1999 FBI statistics showed that New Orleans had the sharpest drop in crime of any of the 34 biggest U.S. cities.
Pennington has boasted that crime is down 25 percent during his time in Atlanta, but the statistics have not appeased a growing number of detractors. That's been especially true this year, when a series of brazen crimes led to widespread criticism of Pennington's leadership.
He was absent during some notable crises, be it the murder of 92-year-old Kathryn Johnston by members of the APD drug unit, the killing of a judge and three others by escaped inmate Brian Nichols or the tornado that struck downtown in March 2008. In each instance Dreher emerged as the public face of the APD.
"He's out of town way too much, " president of the local chapter of the International Brotherhood of Police Officers Scott Kreher said following the Johnston murder. "He's worked hard at improving equipment but there are some issues officers have with his absenteeism. He's not around when a lot of major events go on."
Pennington defended his record in an August column for the AJC.
"During my term, we have reinvented policing in the city," he wrote. "Where is the chief? Working hard for you and employing 30-plus years of professional training and experience on the job."
Appearing Monday at a town hall marking the third anniversary of Johnston's death, Pennington apologized publicly to the family.
“I take full responsibility for what happened," he said. "You can’t have an ongoing healing process until someone steps up and say they were wrong.”
Pennington, 62, told the AJC recently he has no plans to leave Atlanta.
“I’m going to do a little consulting on the side,” Pennington said. “I got a few things I’m working on. I’d rather not say what it is until I leave.”
Dreher, 55, said he also expects to do some consulting work after he leaves APD.
Pennington said Monday he hopes his replacement will be allowed to add new officers.
"We just don’t have enough police," he told the AJC. "I hope one day I will be able to see it – from afar.”
Staff writer Bill Rankin contributed to this report.
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