Citizen Review Board seeks $685,500 increase to hire investigators and expand operations

The Atlanta Citizen Review Board (ACRB) requested additional funding for FY26 to expand its investigative staff and cover contract and space needs, telling City Council the agency is handling an increased caseload and needs more investigators to meet statutory oversight responsibilities.

Executive Director Lee Reed told the council the board processed 219 complaints over the past year and assigned 116 investigations; "APD agreed with 75% of the ACRB sustained allegation findings and APD imposed discipline on 76% of the sustained findings," Reed said while outlining the agency's work and its FY26 proposal.

The nut graf: ACRB leaders said staffing and technology shortfalls limit the board's ability to investigate officer-involved shootings and other serious incidents quickly; the board proposed an FY26 budget of $2,349,281 that includes market salary increases for investigators, funding for two additional positions and…