Atlanta police report year-over-year crime drop, but note uptick in robberies and call for judicial action on repeat offenders

Atlanta Police Chief Sherbaum told the Public Safety and Legal Administration Committee on May 12 that overall crime in the city is down about 11% from this time last year, and that shootings are down roughly 27% year over year.

The chief said the department credits focused enforcement, partnerships with federal and state agencies, and expanded community programs for the reductions, but cautioned that robberies are trending up and are increasingly committed by repeat offenders. He described a multi‑agency probe into a vehicle‑theft ring and asked judges to consider offenders’ records when setting bond.

Chief Sherbaum said, “we are looking at a 11% reduction in overall crime since this time last year,” and he reported a third consecutive year‑over‑year drop in shootings. The department told the committee it recovered 1,042 guns so far this year and charged 267 individuals under Georgia’s gang statutes. The chief also described a multi‑agency investigation called Operation Golden Gate Bridge that targeted an organized ring that stole vehicles from the city and Hartsfield‑Jackson Atlanta International Airport; the investigation estimated more than 200 vehicles stolen between October 2023 and October 2024 with an approximate street value of $18,000,000.

Police officials said some categories are rising despite overall reductions. Robberies, the chief said, are “slightly up right now” and are occurring largely in the evenings; ride‑share drivers and people selling items arranged online are being targeted. The chief attributed the pattern in part to recidivist offenders who are repeatedly arrested and released and urged judges to consider those records when deciding bond, noting two recent arrest cases in which individuals had dozens of prior arrests and multiple felony convictions.

Sherbaum also presented operational updates: a 9.7‑second average 911 answer time year‑to‑date, a 41% citywide reduction in vehicle thefts following targeted enforcement, expanded auto‑crime enforcement at the airport, new anti‑tailgating measures, increased camera coverage, and a recruitment push that has the department near 1,750 sworn officers with a plan to start recruit classes monthly through September. He said the department has stood up a formal MOU process and is beginning administrative investigations concurrently with prosecutor reviews in officer‑involved incidents to speed internal reviews.

Council members pressed the chief on accountability and information sharing with the Atlanta Citizens Review Board (ACRB). Councilmember Antonio Lewis cited a recent news report that appeared to show discrepancies in case status and asked the chief to ensure timely information exchange. Sherbaum said the department now provides a representative at every ACRB meeting, meets biweekly with the board’s executive director, and is crafting a memorandum of understanding to formalize roles and information sharing.

Councilmembers and the chief discussed tactical deployments and data sharing to address robberies and repeat offenders. Several council members — including Antonio Lewis, Byron Amos and Michael Julian Bond — pledged to pursue judicial and legislative avenues if necessary to ensure state repeat‑offender statutes and local processes are applied consistently by courts and criminal justice partners. Sherbaum said the department’s analysts track suspect activity and work with probation/parole and regional partners to identify and disrupt patterns.

Committee members asked for follow‑up information on specific topics raised during the briefing, including details about airport theft patterns, the department’s beat realignment to align neighborhood planning units (NPUs) with zone boundaries, and specific files raised by the ACRB and a local news outlet. The chief committed to provide the department’s written policies on mental‑health engagement and to deliver requested data to the council and the ACRB.

The presentation closed with committee members praising the department’s reductions in homicides and vehicle thefts while signaling continued attention to robberies, recidivist offenders, and information‑sharing with oversight bodies. No formal action items or votes were taken on policing strategy during the meeting.