News Summary
In response to a tragic fatal accident, Atlanta city leaders are advocating for changes in police pursuit policies. The Atlanta City Council has passed a resolution urging the Georgia State Patrol to modify its pursuit practices within city limits. This comes after a deadly crash involving a police chase that claimed the life of an innocent driver. The proposed changes aim to enhance public safety and ensure accountability in law enforcement. A full council vote is anticipated soon, highlighting the need for reform in pursuit protocols in the city.
Atlanta city leaders are taking steps to reform police pursuit policies after a tragic incident that resulted in the death of an innocent driver. The Atlanta City Council passed a resolution urging the Georgia State Patrol (GSP) to revise its pursuit policies within city limits. This resolution, which has already gained unanimous approval from the Public Safety and Legal Administration committee, is set for a full council vote on May 5.
The push for legislative change is in direct response to a fatal crash that occurred on April 14 in the Little Five Points neighborhood. During this incident, 23-year-old Faduma Mohamed was pursued by GSP troopers for erratic driving on I-20. The chase ended when Mohamed ran a red light, colliding with 19-year-old Cooper Schoenke, who later succumbed to injuries from the crash.
The proposed ordinance aims to implement three significant modifications to GSP’s pursuit policies. Additionally, it calls on the Atlanta Police Department to examine its engagement protocols with GSP when providing backup during pursuits. This initiative has been sponsored by City Councilmember Liliana Bakhtiari, who has emphasized the need for substantial reform in light of current practices.
Devin Barrington-Ward from the National Police Accountability Project has raised concerns about the potential dangers that arise when law enforcement pursues traffic violations, stating that such actions should not jeopardize the safety of the public. The fatal accident involving Schoenke is not the first of its kind; GSP has been involved in over 6,700 pursuits over the past five years, with around 3,400 resulting in crashes that often put bystanders at risk.
In the aftermath of the crash, Kate Schoenke, Cooper’s mother, has voiced her support for modifications to GSP’s pursuit policies, stressing the importance of having checks and balances in police authority. The GSP is currently conducting an investigation into the April 14 incident through both their Specialized Collision Reconstruction Team and the Office of Professional Standards. Despite this ongoing investigation, GSP officials have chosen not to comment on the proposed legislation, indicating that it may not serve their interests at this stage.
In their communication regarding pursuit policies, GSP officials have stated that such policies are rooted in legal grounds and are informed by extensive training. Officers are required to ensure their actions remain objectively reasonable during pursuits. They mentioned that the tragic outcome of the Little Five Points incident may have been avoided had the driver complied with law enforcement directions initially.
Faduma Mohamed is now facing multiple severe charges, including murder and vehicular homicide, as a result of the crash. The intent behind the proposed resolution is to harmonize GSP’s pursuit policies with those already in place by the Atlanta Police Department while they are patrolling within the city.
Opinions regarding the urgency of reforming these pursuit policies are divided along political lines, with some representatives calling for accountability and transparency, while others continue to defend the existing practices of the state patrol. Onlookers near the site of the incident, including state representatives, witnessed the crash unfold while dining close by, galvanizing the call for reform.
As community leaders await the upcoming city council vote, the implications of this legislation could mark a pivotal shift in law enforcement practices on the streets of Atlanta, reforming how police pursuits are conducted in the interest of public safety.
Deeper Dive: News & Info About This Topic
HERE Resources
North Atlanta High School Under Lockdown After Scissors Attack
Advocates Demand Change After Fatal Georgia State Patrol Pursuit
Tragic Crash in Atlanta Raises Concerns Over Police Pursuits
DeKalb County’s Initiative for Improved Public Safety
Additional Resources
- Atlanta News First
- Google Search: Atlanta police pursuit policies
- Patch
- Wikipedia: Police chase
- Axios
- Encyclopedia Britannica: Traffic accident
- AJC
- Google News: police chase accidents
