Dickens wants to add police operations chief

Mayor cites need for ‘business model’ to help APD address issues.

Mayor Andre Dickens says the Atlanta Police Department needs a new executive with the ability to address the car shortage and other needs among the city’s sworn officers.

Speaking to members of the Rotary Club of Atlanta on Monday, Dickens said the city’s police officers complain about more than just money, and that the APD needs to employ someone focused solely on forecasting the state of the department’s operational needs.

That new person will be a Chief Operating Officer for the Atlanta Police Department.

“I’m adding a business element to the operations of the police force,” Dickens said. “We need to have a business model, so we’re going to put in place something similar to a Chief Operating Officer for the police department, and that would have a little office to it, that will manage these things.”

Policing was one of several topics addressed during a fireside chat involving Dickens and Sharon Gay, the mayor’s transition team co-chair, a former Dentons managing partner and a former mayoral candidate. The discussion touched on city services, procurement, ethics, federal funding and education, among other topics.

Dickens said his administration is focusing on hiring 250 officers by year’s end. He also recently hired a new manager for the city’s nightlife division, which is designed to help bars and clubs with issues such as security plans, zoning and de-escalation training.

Dickens is also hiring a new police chief and four other department heads in Planning, Procurement, Human Resources and Parks.

The mayor said he believes the city will operate more efficiently if it fully funds the Inspector General’s Office and Ethics Division, and allows them to work independently without political interference.

“Everybody that has Atlanta in their name got a letter from me that set the tone that we’re going to operate this government

with integrity,” Dickens said. “I’m going to see an increase in people bidding on all these projects that

we have because they’re going to know that it’s fair.

“I believe that we’re going to be even more competitive . ... I believe our pricing is going to go down. I believe our service delivery is going to go up, because it’s just going to be on merit.”

Speaking of work, Dickens urged the business leaders in the room to help the city hire 3,000 teenagers this summer.

Dickens also said the city is asking Atlanta Public Schools and the philanthropic community to match the city’s $5 million investment in early childhood education. The mayor said the city wants to provide more transportation to students to participate in after-school projects at recreational centers.

“The transition team said 2023 needs to be the year of the youth and I’m going to adopt that,” Dickens said. “The year of the youth

is going to happen in 2023.”