'Cop City' Inspection Shows Initial Steps For ATL Public Safety Center

EAST ATLANTA, GA — An inspection of the land where the Atlanta Public Safety Training Center will sit has been completed, showing that no unauthorized clearing of the land has taken place, DeKalb County officials said Thursday.

The inspection of 1350 Constitution Road/561 Key Road in DeKalb County took place around 10:30 a.m. Wednesday.

The construction is currently in phase 1, which consists of the authorization of conservation and engineering measures and certain security measures.

The Atlanta Police Foundation will oversee the center, which will benefit the Atlanta Police Department and the Atlanta Fire Rescue Department.

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An application for the land disturbance permit was submitted on April 15, 2022, and the permit was issued on Jan. 31.

According to the report, officials had received multiple complaints from people making accusations that "unspecified clearing, grading and excavation are taking place on the property."

Officials noted current work underway at the location includes tree removal along the perimeter to make room for silt fence installation.

Other current work efforts include clearing a path for the silt fence installation and flagging of clearings and stream buffers limits.

The county indicated the work done so far at the site was authorized under the land development permit.

"Additionally, no mass grading or land disturbance was detected," county officials said in the inspection report.

The training center has been at the forefront of a battle between law enforcement and protesters who are against the building of the center for environmental concerns. Atlanta city officials have promised to protect the forest in the building of the center, which has come to be known as "Cop City."

Authorities have responded to the training center site multiple times, arresting protesters in December on domestic terrorism charges and returning in January during a joint task force clearing operation. The operation turned deadly when a Georgia State trooper was shot and the person accused of firing the gun was shot and killed by law enforcement. Body cam footage of the shooting's aftermath was released on Feb. 9 by the Atlanta Police Department.

According to the Atlanta Police Foundation, the initial phase of the training center is expected to open in the fourth quarter this year.