APD to Hold Community Meetings on Rezoning

The Atlanta Police Department, which is reviewing its six beat zones and commissioned a study last year to look realigning them, will unveil its plan in a series of community meetings beginning Feb. 24 and continuing through March.

APD originally commissioned the plan to create more even workloads among the six zones and cut down on response times.

“It’s important for us to communicate our intentions to the public,” APD Chief George Turner said in a prepared statement. “I’m hoping that citizens will gain a greater understanding of what we’re trying to accomplish and see the benefits that will result in a safer city for all of us.”

The first meeting — set for 7 p.m. on Feb. 24 at the Lodge at Peachtree Presbyterian Church; 3417 Roswell Road — addresses the changes for Zone 2.

The dates for the other five zones — including 3, 5 and 6 the three that patrol the neighborhoods in East Atlanta Patch — will be announced next week.

In an interview earlier this month with East Atlanta and Midtown patches, Atlanta Councilman Kwanza Hall said he was initially concerned about the process and what that might mean for the city

Hall represents District 2, which includes Old Fourth Ward Sweet Auburn, Poncey-Highland Midtown and Atlantic Station among other neighborhoods.

"Initially, I had some consternation with the expansion of Zone 6 into Zone 5," Hall said. "I think there are some zones like Zone 4 that are extremely large and the officers have a hard time policing and patrolling and getting around the districts and being able to service the constituents like they need to."

Zone 6, for example,  is large, touching I-85 and Lindbergh Drive NE on its northern boundary and going south along Moreland Avenue to Browns Mill, Hall said.

"Zone 6 is extremely large, but it's not that wide," Hall said. "It's narrow. I do think breaking it up and coming up with a strategy was necessary. To me it's all about still working together. Either way, it's about tough policing and arresting people when necessary."