Council member Brown introduces legislation to study creating Department of Public Safety and Wellness
District 3 Council member Antonio Brown recently introduced legislation requesting that three Council committees conduct a feasibility study and compile recommendations regarding establishing the Department of Public Safety and Wellness in the City of Atlanta.
The legislation seeks to establish the new department to increase community safety and address concerns that exist between the public and law enforcement regarding accountability and transparency.
As outlined in the legislation, the Council’s Public Safety and Legal Administration, Community Development and Human Services, and Finance/Executive committees would be tasked with examining the establishment of the new department to consist of a newly formed division, offices, positions, and commissioner. The legislation also proposes that the committees hold no less than two work sessions with community partners, experts in public safety, and the public.
In terms of the structure of the department, the legislation requests that the committees consider establishing a new hybrid division geared toward community-based responses that will be responsible for local services and non-emergency functions previously handled by the Atlanta Police Department, Fire and Rescue, and Constituent Services. The new division’s aim would be to work with police to ensure the protection of first responders when in the field and eliminate the criminalization of poverty. The legislation also directs the committees to submit formal recommendations of all findings to the mayor’s administration and all Council members within 120 days following the adoption of the resolution.
