Athens, Ga-September 28, 2018, Athens Anti-Discrimination Movement, Athens For Everyone, and Athens Immigrant Rights Coalition request that the County Manager and ACCPD permit members of this community to participate in shaping the future of policing in ACC by creating a citizens advisory committee and allow community input prior to selecting a new police chief.
For the past two years, AADM, AIRC, and various citizens have engaged with ACCPD in an effort to improve local policing. Our organizations made a vigorous attempt to engage through dialogue, serving on committees involving officers in community events, and by attending ACCPD citizens academy. Unfortunately, despite our efforts, due to recent changes, there is a growing sense of distrust and division between the community and the police department. To gain mutual understanding and to start a much-needed conversation about sound governance, AADM will host a town hall meeting Oct 4th, 2018, 5-7 pm at Hendershots, moderated by Blake Aued, co-sponsored by AIRC and A4E. Local elected officials, County Manager Blaine Williams, and key stakeholders have been invited to attend.
Regrettably, eight days following Scott Freeman’s departure from Athens Clarke County Police Department, Deputy Chief Justin Gregory also announced his voluntary exit from the police force. Thus, it’s vital for the Athens Mayor, Commissioner, and County Manager to provide clarity on the future of police reform and community policing in Athens.
Upon request, we received an open records report with information related to Scott Freeman’s departure. After spending numerous hours analyzing various documents and holding conversations with community members, our organizations are concerned that some reforms Freeman sought to implement were not welcomed by some in the Athens Clarke County Police Department. In addition, many officers are underpaid, overworked, and additional training. Regardless of whom is appointed as the future ACC Police Chief, if these issues aren’t fully addressed, we cannot make progress to ensure the safety of all residents and the end to mass incarceration. We want to support the County Managers decision and ACCPD during this transition but can not move forward in good faith without collaboration or open communication.
We cannot accept silence as a response to our concerns. Citizens deserve to know how the community policing model, and other vital programs that former Police Chiefs Lumpkin implemented and Freeman nurtured, will be carried through this leadership transition, and how continued community engagement by Freeman’s successor will be guaranteed. We need to discuss how and why the Mayor and Commission should have the resources necessary to be part of the hiring and firing of key positions such as Chief of Police and why it’s important for the community to have input.
We ask that this community stand with us and unite in an effort to improve local policing and secure the safety and wellbeing of all citizens despite race, immigration or economic status, sexual orientation, disability, or gender.
What to expect?
5 to 5:50 pm- Informal time with Music & Voter Awareness hosted by Knowa Johnson with a performance by William Freeman Leverett, a composer, vocalist & multi-instrumentalist. Also, Foreign, a local reggae artist, will sing a couple of tunes.
5:50 to 6 pm- AADM Introduction of event conversation and participants including host Mokah Jasmine Johnson with community members Gwen O Looney, Mariah Parker, Tim Denson, UGA Law Professor Russell Gabriel, and Interim Chief Hunsinger. Moderated by Blake Aued, news editor of Flagpole Magazine.
Please join us October 4th at Hendershots from 5-7 pm. For more information please contact AADM athensantidiscrimination@