Press Releases

 Mayor’s Office of Communications
55 Trinity Avenue, Suite 2500 • Atlanta, Georgia 30303

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: 03/19/12

News Release

Media Statement: City of Atlanta Law Department Comments on Resolution of Four Atlanta Police Department Lawsuits

The Atlanta City Council today approved a global settlement which resolves four separate lawsuits involving constitutional violations by the Atlanta Police Department. The settlements, which total $940,000, include the resolution of the recently filed Burkes lawsuit, which was brought by additional Eagle bar patrons after the settlement of the first Calhoun lawsuit, as well as three additional lawsuits.
Under the settlement approved today, the city will implement new and revised Standard Operating Procedures on searches, preservation of information, and protection of citizen’s rights to record police activity. Even before the settlement was reached, the city already had implemented department-wide training on proper searches, which will continue moving forward.

Since the Calhoun lawsuit was settled in December 2010, the city has put into motion multiple reforms relating to the Atlanta Police Department. The police department, under the leadership of Chief George Turner, disbanded the Red Dog unit, conducted a full review and revision of its Standard Operating Procedures, and engaged a nationally recognized expert, Ken Wallentine, to conduct department-wide training on police procedures.

The city is pleased to end this chapter of litigation and move forward in the spirit of cooperation. Plaintiffs and the city jointly recognize that now is the time to end costly and time-consuming litigation and conflict, and move forward with a newly-strengthened relationship between the police department and the community.

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