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