2020 Atlanta police sickout

In mid-June 2020, a number of Atlanta Police Department officers engaged in a sickout ("blue flu") and work stoppages in response to the police department's actions after the killing of Rayshard Brooks, a black man, who assaulted two police officers during a driving under the influence stop. On June 17, 2020, the district attorney in Fulton County, Georgia, Paul L. Howard, Jr., announced 11 charges against the police officer who killed Brooks, saying that he could face the death penalty if convicted. Three charges were also filed against the other officers involved in the shooting.

On June 21, 2020, Atlanta's interim police chief, Rodney Bryant, said that "a higher than average number of officers" had called in sick over the preceding days, which prompted the department "to shift resources to ensure proper coverage" in the City of Atlanta.[1]

Background
Further information: Killing of Rayshard Brooks

On June 12, two Atlanta Police Department (APD) officers were involved in the killing of Rayshard Brooks, resulting from a traffic stop for allegedly driving under the influence at a branch of Wendy's after stealing a taser from one of the officers and firing it at them. Atlanta Chief of Police Erika Shields resigned the next day and during a subsequent riot, the Wendy's was burned down, fire was set to several nearby cars, and a CNN camera was broken.[2][3][4][5][6][7][8][9]

On June 17, before the conclusion of the Georgia Bureau of Investigation (GBI) investigation, Fulton County District Attorney Paul L. Howard Jr. announced eleven charges against the officer who fired the fatal shot, Garrett Rolfe (felony murder, five counts of aggravated assault, four police oath violations and damage to property)[10][11] and three charges against the other officer, Devin Brosnan (aggravated assault and violation of oath).[12][13][14]

A bond hearing for Rolfe is pending.[15] Brosnan was granted bail and released on his own recognizance.[16]

Event

Across June 17, 18, and 19, APD officers called out sick or reported for duty but refused to take calls.[17][18][19][20]

Numbers were not released, but on June 18 only one officer showed up to work in one precinct to which several dozen are assigned.[17]

On the evening of June 19 every single police officer failed to report for duty in Zone 5, leaving only the three supervisors.[21]

On June 21, Atlanta's interim police chief, Rodney Bryant, said that "a higher than average number of officers" had called in sick over the preceding days, which prompted the department "to shift resources to insure proper coverage" in the City of Atlanta.[1]

Total arrests citywide dropped by 71% during the sickout. A representative of a police union told WSB-TV that this could possibly be explained by officers now being more afraid routine stops could result in a possible serious situation and their arrest.[22]

CNN reported that in the days after the charges were announced around 170 officers called in sick and officers in 3 out of the city's 6 police zones did not respond to calls.[23]

Reactions and responses

Atlanta Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms said that APD morale "is down ten-fold"[24] On June 18, the Atlanta Police Foundation, a private nonprofit group, announced that all APD officers would receive a one-time $500 bonus for continuing to work through the COVID-19 pandemic and the recent George Floyd protests.[25][26]

In response to reports of low morale, Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp declared that the state "backs the blue."[27]

See also

References
  1. Collin Kelley, Interim Atlanta police chief addresses officer sickout in wake of Rayshard Brooks charges, Reporter Newspapers (June 21, 2020).
  2. "Atlanta police chief resigns after fatal police shooting". Associated Press. June 13, 2020. Archived from the original on June 13, 2020. Retrieved June 13, 2020.
  3. Moshtaghian, Artemis; Croft, Jay (June 13, 2020). "Atlanta police officer shoots a black man dead at a fast-food drive-thru, authorities say". CNN. Retrieved June 13, 2020.
  4. Hauck, Grace (June 13, 2020). "Black Atlanta man Rayshard Brooks dies after police shooting at a Wendy's drive-thru, investigators say". USA Today. Retrieved June 13, 2020.
  5. Siegel, Rachel (June 13, 2020). "Atlanta police chief resigns after law enforcement fatally shoots black man". The Washington Post. Retrieved June 13, 2020.
  6. Osborne, Mark; Hoyos, Joshua (June 13, 2020). "Atlanta Police Chief Erika Shields resigns in wake of fatal shooting". ABC News. Retrieved June 13, 2020.
  7. "Rayshard Brooks shooting: Protesters block traffic on Atlanta highway". WJAX. Archived from the original on June 14, 2020. Retrieved June 14, 2020.
  8. Washington, Audrey. "LIVE UPDATES: Wendy's where Rayshard Brooks was killed goes up in flames". WSBTV. Archived from the original on June 14, 2020. Retrieved June 14, 2020.
  9. Artemis Moshtaghian; Jay Croft; Paul P. Murphy; Kelly McCleary; Amir Vera. "Atlanta officer who fatally shot Rayshard Brooks has been terminated". CNN. Retrieved June 14, 2020.
  10. Carr, Nicole. "Many question DA's decision to charge officers in Brooks case before end of GBI investigation". wsbtv.com. Cox Media Group. Retrieved June 19, 2020.
  11. Hansen, Zachary; Boone, Christian. "Former Atlanta cop charged with felony murder in Rayshard Brooks' death". Atlanta Journal-Constitution.
  12. Siddiqui, Sabrina (June 17, 2020). "Atlanta Police Officer Who Shot Rayshard Brooks Charged With Felony Murder". Wall Street Journal. ISSN 0099-9660. Archived from the original on June 17, 2020. Retrieved June 17, 2020.
  13. "Rayshard Brooks shooting: Atlanta officer charged with felony murder". The Guardian. June 17, 2020. Archived from the original on June 18, 2020. Retrieved June 17, 2020.
  14. Saxon, Angela (June 17, 2020). "GBI was unaware of today's Atlanta press conference regarding Rayshard Brooks shooting". wfxg.com. WFXG. Retrieved June 21, 2020.
  15. Christian Boone, Rolfe bond hearing delayed by judge, Atlanta Journal-Constitution (June 23, 2020).
  16. https://www.9and10news.com/2020/06/19/officer-garrett-rolfe-held-without-bond-for-killing-of-rayshard-brooks/
  17. Brumback, Kate (June 18, 2020). "Atlanta police call out sick to protest charges in shooting". Associated Press. Archived from the original on June 18, 2020. Retrieved June 18, 2020.
  18. "Despite assurances from department, overnight police radio reveals bouts of silence and calls left unanswered". WXIA-TV.
  19. Norman, Greg (June 19, 2020). "Atlanta cops continuing to call out of work, interim police chief vows 'we will get through this'". Fox News.
  20. Steve Almasy; Ryan Young; Devon M. Sayers. "Atlanta police shortages continue for second day". CNN.
  21. "Atlanta police sickout calls continue for third day". WXIA-TV.
  22. Belcher, Richard. "Crime numbers across Atlanta drop dramatically after protests, records show". WSBTV. Retrieved June 27, 2020.
  23. https://www.cnn.com/2020/06/27/us/atlanta-police-rayshard-brooks-shooting-sick-outs/index.html
  24. "Atlanta police department morale "is down ten-fold," Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms says". CBS News.
  25. Daniel Villarreal (June 18, 2020). "NYPD Mulls 'Strike', Atlanta Police Get $500 Bonus As Protests Sap Morale". Newsweek.
  26. Bowden, John (June 18, 2020). "Foundation to provide Atlanta police with one-time $500 bonus for work during protests". The Hill.
  27. "How Atlanta is coping with cops' low morale". WRDW.
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