Last year, Mayor Kelly Girtz established a Police Advisory Task Force to investigate how to improve the relationship between the Athens-Clarke County Police Department and our community.  After a year of extensive research, discussion, and collaboration with the National Association of Civilian Oversight of Law Enforcement (NACOLE), the Task Force set forth specific recommendations to create infrastructure to help heal our community.  

The Task Force recommended the creation of an Auditor position and a Civilian Oversight Board. The Auditor/Monitor would manage daily operations, and the Civilian Oversight Board, composed of community members who reflect the identities of Athenians and those marginalized communities most affected by policing,  would give community members a voice and  a seat at the table. 

This is an opportunity for residents of Athens-Clarke County, our local government, and our police department to begin working towards improving transparency, reducing police misconduct and abuse, and creating a dialogue between officers and community members. Our community needs peace and resolution; the Auditor and Civilian Oversight Board would be a step in the right direction. 

We, the undersigned petitioners, urge the Government Affairs Committee to pass the recommendations of the Task Force on to the Mayor and Commissioners as soon as possible for adoption and inclusion of the Auditor position and the Civilian Oversight Board in the  Fiscal Year 22 budget.