Many people have contacted me regarding my work on the Police Chief Search Committee and Mayor Reed’s appointment of George Turner to Atlanta’s Police Chief. This is my statement:

Mayor Reed obviously picked who he wanted to pick. That’s his prerogative.

No, George Turner was not one of the three people recommended by the Police Chief Search Committee but that does not make him a “bad” candidate for the job. He did, in fact, still make a competitive short list of 6 names culled from over 30.

In regards to the controversy surrounding the committee, there was obvious miscommunication between the Mayor’s Office and ourselves. I take the Mayor at his word when he says he always wanted five names. I trust he takes me at mine when I say we were always told three.

Mayor Reed has selected George Turner to lead Atlanta’s Police Department and I support both his decision and Chief Turner in that role. With our city’s youth fighting it out at Screen on the Green to store clerks still getting slain in neighborhood supermarkets, it’s time for a bold, comprehensive approach.

We must attend to our city’s youth, increase graduation rates, address poverty and homelessness, and yes, strengthen our public safety infrastructure that includes 911, fire, and the police department.

As Acting Chief, George Turner demonstrated a unique zeal for getting things rolling. I support him in hopes he keep doing so. The time for world class public safety in Atlanta is now. Let’s move forward and work with our city leadership to ensure that happens.

Kyle Keyser
Atlanta resident

I’ve been asked to serve on the search committee for Atlanta’s new police chief. This is an important process for an important position that will absolutely shape the future of Atlanta. I’m honored and privileged to have been asked. And because this is a community that we’ve all created, I want your input.

So I ask… what do you want in the next Chief of Police? What qualities should she or he have? What sort of experience should they ideally have? What would you want the APD to look like in 3-5 years? Or, do you believe there’s a qualified candidate within the APD ranks who everyone should consider? I invite everyone to begin a discussion below.

In the meantime, I will listen, participate, and compile your thoughts to help guide me through the selection process. I will also keep you posted on our progress. It is only the candidate names who I can not reveal – a measure taken to protect them, in light of national candidates whose employers may or may not know they’ve put themselves on the market.

Please note that all comments will be monitored and I will delete anything that is not constructive toward fruitful discussion.

Thank you! Let’s discuss! If you prefer Facebook, go here!

The site will be coming down soon as I look to reorganize Atlantans Together.  As Atlanta moves forward with a new mayor, so will we. The political force that we once were will be transformed into a new entity called, simply, Atlantans Together. It will be a non-profit aimed at keeping Atlantans safe by connecting communities, fostering inter-neighborhood communication, and facilitating civic participation.

I hope Atlantans Together to be a city wide brand that reaches every corner of Atlanta. Together, we will reach every community, connect them, and unite us as a safe, world class city.

Before I take the site down completely, there is some last business to finalize. I’ve been selected to sit on the Selection Committee for the new police chief of Atlanta. As details are released and the committee begins to meet, I hope to facilitate a dialogue between all of us where we can decide on the qualities we want in the next police chief.

According to 11 Alive, George Turner will be the interim Chief of Police for APD. The AJC describes his current position:

Turner joined Atlanta’s police force in 1981 and has commanded the Zone 1 precinct of northwest Atlanta. He now oversees APD’s support services division, which includes the crime lab and the 911 communications center. Turner was a finalist last year for the police chief’s position in Fort Worth, Texas. He declined comment.

An interesting read from the AJC.

Reed’s selection of Atlanta’s next police chief will be one of the most important decisions he’ll make as mayor, and he’s promised his process will be open and transparent, seek public input and entertain applications from “super cops” from within APD and nationwide.For that reason, Reed said recently, he doesn’t want to rush his decision.

At a press conference from the transitional offices at City Hall today, Mayor-elect Kasim Reed announced his choice for Chief Operating Officer for the city. Peter Aman will take the helm and lead the executive management of the municipal operating departments including Police, Fire, Corrections, Aviation, Human Resources, Information Technology, Procurement, Public Works, Parks/Recreation/Cultural Affairs, Watershed Management, and Planning and Community Development.

Personally, I think it’s an excellent choice. Peter Aman was a partner in Bain & Company who authored the Turnaround plan for Atlanta in 2002 and 2005 (otherwise known as “The Bain Report”). He certainly knows the city from the inside out.

Notes from the conference follow.

Read the rest of this entry »

Candlelight Vigil Tonight for Kavader McKibben
21-year-old Kavader M. McKibben was murdered while working Friday night at the Moreland Package Store (15 Moreland Ave). He was shot twice by 19 year-old Terrone Anthony. Residents of southeast Atlanta are encouraged to come pay their respects and show support for the victim and his family Monday night at 7pm. The vigil will take place in the parking lot of the Moreland Package Store.

Please bring a candle and some to share if you can.

We are fed up with the constant violence in the metro Atlanta area and we want our presence as a united community to be known.

Facebook invite here: http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=241256188568&index=1

The most important vote in this election has yet to be cast.

The run off for Atlanta mayor is happening on Tuesday, December 1st. Knowing this moment will shape our future in Atlanta, I’m asking all of you to pledge your participation and vote.

Atlantans Together Against Crime started as a movement to bring awareness to public safety and hold City Hall accountable. Together, we’ve made a huge difference and have absolutely shaped discourse in this election. We have two candidates who have made public safety their priority – in large part because of us – and now is the time to continue making our voices heard.

When the new mayor arrives, our job begins again. With your help, we will continue to lead Atlantans Together in its fight for a better city. We will require the mayor to invest in our public safety infrastructure so we can have quality, trained officers policing the city. We’ll also remind City Hall that it’s not just about police but about addressing poverty and education. Improving these shouldn’t be “luxuries” we afford only when we can.

Regardless of which candidate you support, know that your vote matters now more than ever… know that it’s your power and now is the time to use it – even if you didn’t vote in the general election.

Your polling location: http://sos.georgia.gov/elections/polllocator/PollLocator.aspx

You may vote early next Monday – Wednesday at the Fulton County Government Center at 141 Pryor Street SW.

Thank you.

Kyle Keyser
Founder, ATAC

Redding was in court this morning. From the AJC:

On Wednesday, Superior Court Judge Kimberly Esmond Adams ordered Redding to testify before a grand jury about what happened and who else was involved.