I am writing to provide an update on our continuing efforts to reduce crime in Atlanta.
- We are adding more police officers to the street. This week 26 new graduates of the police academy were assigned to foot patrols throughout the city. We now have 1632 sworn officers in the Atlanta Police Department – up from 1577 in 2002.
- Operation Hot Spot – the use of overtime to add a new shift of 25 experienced officers directly into targeted high crime areas – is now in its third full week of operations.
- The beefed up Gang Unit – now with an added 20 officers – has been working for more than 45 days.
- We continue to track crime on a weekly basis through COBRA, the computer-based tracking system that identifies crime trends in real time. COBRA numbers show that the increased police presence and new tactics are paying off: crime is down 23% for the most recent 28 day period (versus the same 28 day period in 2008).
- And in a full 50-year historical context, the FBI crime numbers just released last week (for 2008) show that Atlanta has continued the long-term trend of steadily decreasing the crime rate. As the attached chart shows, the crime rate in Atlanta today is at levels not seen since 1970.
- Our partnership with the Atlanta Police Foundation is as strong as ever, and has led directly to adding many best practices within the police department. The good news about the Police Foundation is that it ensures these best practices will continue for years to come.
I am also attaching two recent op-ed pieces from myself and Chief Pennington that you may have read in the Atlanta Journal Constitution which go into much more detail about the current state of public safety in Atlanta.
City of Atlanta Crime Rate (1958 - 1209)
Mayor Franklin Op-Ed
As my final term nears its conclusion, I am increasingly asked what I think is my most important accomplishment. Rebuilding the sewer system? Overseeing the largest expansion of the airport in its history? Launching the Beltline?
While those issues get headlines, I actually believe that my most important contribution will be restoring the professional and ethical management of government back into the City’s day-to-day operations. It is what residents expected and deserved.
Eight years ago there were no monthly financial reports being produced, operating data was unavailable and no one could tell me how many employees worked for the city. The water service was in chaos with contractors threatening to stop work; potholes were not being filled; and parks were not being maintained. We needed a comprehensive turn-around plan, which Bain and Company developed for us. It included 29 specific strategies for re-inventing city government. We also brought in consultants to advise us on how to re-engineer dozens of City businesses including courts management, building permitting, fleet management, solid waste, human resources, IT management and procurement.
As a result of reform measures that we have put in place, we are delivering services more effectively and efficiently. Since 2001, we have reduced the number of general government employees by 30%, from 5,600 to less than 4,000. We did this and hired 300 additional police officers during a period in which the City’s population grew by 25%. When we came into office, according to Bain and Company’s analysis, we were among our peer cities, one of the least efficient city governments. Today, only one city is ahead of us in that ranking.
So how did we make these major improvements in just eight years?
First, we began tracking and collecting performance data with the creation of ATLStat a measurement tool which tracks the information on the City’s website. We have targets and managers are accountable to achieving those targets and they are reviewed in weekly meetings.
Second, we aggressively reorganized our business operations. This included consolidation of the courts which reduced staffing from 480 to 132 and re-engineered jail operations which reduced staffing from 640 to 240.
Third, we invested in new technologies to improve productivity in finance, human resources, information technology, planning, and Police and Fire, just to name a few of the technology improvements.
Fourth, we privatized services where there was a business case to justify doing so. As a result, we realized service improvements and savings in worker’s compensation management, public vending, fine collections, parking enforcement and inmate services.
So eight years later with the hard work of the Cabinet and hundreds of City employees we are turning the corner. The new mayor will inherit a government that is ethical, professionally managed, transparent and much more efficient (visit the ATLStat website at www.atlantaga.gov).
As my term needs an end, I am reminded of a gospel song with the words, "Lord, let my work speak for me". What a great song.
Shirley Franklin
Mayor, City of Atlanta
Another View: Despite brazen acts, Atlanta is a safer city
By Richard Pennington
In looking at recent events, certain things become clear. First, Atlanta is without question safer than it has been in decades. Over the past five years, we averaged 109 homicides, the lowest since 1964-1968. Overall, the crime rate is at 1969 levels, and is down 66 percent since it peaked in 1989.
However, most people care about what is happening now.
Every week we analyze crime trends. In 2009, crime is down 10 percent, but we have some semi-organized criminal activity occurring. One group – the Blue Jean Bandits –has been breaking into stores stealing jeans and televisions. We caught 32 of them and think this has been resolved.
Several muggings around Georgia Tech led to four arrests. No muggings have been reported in three weeks.
We had some carjackings in Zone 1, most notably involving City Councilman Ceasar Mitchell. Although carjackings are down by 29 percent citywide, there has been a spike around Washington Park. We have a plan and will catch these guys.
Some claim APD needs more resources and that we are losing police officers. Let me set the record straight: We are not losing police officers at a rate different from the past, or elsewhere in the country. In 2008, 165 police officers left the force. That may sound like a lot, but it is consistent with past attrition and the rate most cities experience. Our police officers are paid more than almost any in the region; their salaries have increased by 27 percent since I have been here (more than any other employees in city government). Retiree pension and health benefits have been expanded, too.
We have enough resources. We have added more than 300 police officers during my time here. When I arrived in 2002, I had one police officer for every 35 violent and property crimes committed that year. Now I have one police officer for every 26 of those crimes committed. That 30 percent improvement is entirely due to the city’s commitment to give us the resources we need.
During my term, we have reinvented policing in the city. We implemented all of the recommendations of the turnaround plan of Linder & Associates. We built a crime-mapping tool that tracks crime geographically and helps us concentrate resources. We redesigned our beats and instituted foot patrols for the first time in 30 years. We have new police vehicles, facilities and a state-of-the-art 911 call center. A new Atlanta Police Foundation advocates for the department and attracts private funding. We have created Crime Stoppers and Neighborhood Watch groups.
Since I joined the force crime is down 25 percent. Where is the chief? Working hard for you and employing 30-plus years of professional training and experience on the job.
Richard Pennington is Atlanta Police Chief.