by ACRB Executive Director Lee Reid
According to the Oxford Languages, the world’s leading dictionary publisher, respect is “a feeling or understanding that someone or something is important, serious, etc., and should be treated in an appropriate way.”
This six-letter word can move people to fight and people to love. It can make people feel valued or discarded. When it is lacking, trust is broken, fears are created. When it is present, understanding can be achieved, and change can occur.
Respect of the individual is paramount in the ACRB operation. Citizens and officers are accorded the respect that all citizens deserve in a civilized society regardless of socio-economic status, uniform, or familiarity or lack of familiarity.
Why is respect important to the ACRB? Because every citizen and officer involved in a complaint deserves to have their concerns heard and evaluated fairly despite their actions and words during the incident. It is only through an objective and transparent investigative process that credibility, legitimacy, and trust can be fostered and encouraged.
For the ACRB, respect means that the agency does not make predetermined decisions on allegations or evidence. Every complaint that a citizen and officer are involved in is assessed, evaluated, and determined by the evidence uncovered without regard to the person making the complaint or the officer the complaint is against.
For the ACRB, respect means responding to citizen and officer concerns timely, informing citizens and officers of the status of their complaints, and the results of their investigations.
For the ACRB, respect means thoroughly investigating a complaint to ensure that all available evidence is fairly considered and weighed in a manner that is credible and logical.
For the ACRB, respect is about integrity. The agency demonstrates its respect for citizens and officers by operating with the highest standards of integrity, with honest intentions and sound judgment.
If you have a question or concern about the actions of an Atlanta police or corrections officer, contact the ACRB. Call 404-865-8622.