Over the past spring and summer months, the Atlanta Citizen Review Board (ACRB) has been engaged in an aggressive community outreach and awareness campaign. We do this because we want citizens to know that if they ever have concerns about an officer’s behavior, they have a trusted, fair, and transparent process to file complaints. The agency attended numerous events in the community and held two community board meetings.
One of the comments that the ACRB frequently hears from community members during these events is, “I’m glad to know you exist. We need someone to watch the police.” Another comment frequently heard is, “I wish I knew about the ACRB a few years ago when I had a problem with the police.”
Some people believe that the agency’s community outreach encourages citizens to file complaints and that it highlights the bad actions of a few officers. Some also believe that if people don’t file complaints, then the problem doesn’t exist.
To be clear the ACRB doesn’t create complaints or motivate people to file complaints. It gives citizens options on how to address their concerns about their experiences with the police. The staff’s hope is that the ACRB is viewed as a better alternative to settle their concerns about an officer’s actions, words, and behaviors by filing a complaint than being driven by fear to run or fight with an officer.
ACRB understands the feelings of hopelessness, fear, and anxiety that some citizens feel during interactions with police officers. Staff members are here to support you through filing a complaint and the investigative process. The agency is committed to making citizens experiences with law enforcement officers better through tenacious attention to citizens’ concerns and complaints about their interactions with police officers.