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. 

AADM Demands

• We demand for that the Government Operations Committee to accept the Police Advisory Task recommendations and submit to Mayor and Commission by August 30th
• We demand that the Mayor and Commission amend the budget and allocate a minimum of $250,000 for the creation of the Civilian Oversight Office.

Click HERE to read more and sign the petition. To review the recommendations for Civilian Oversight or to find out more information about the process visit https://www.accgov.com/9542/Police-Advisory-Task-Force