From the desk of UHNA Vice President Beau Grant, BCN Representative;
The last BCN was mostly about the "Atlanta Police Foundation" & "Buckhead Public Safety Foundation", explaining in great detail what charitable contributions can do to enhance recruitment and officer retention by funding hiring or retention bonus incentives, take home cars, and other perks officers consider valuable. David Wilkerson, CEO of Atlanta Police Foundation, presented this portion. His bio is here: https://hopeglobalforums.org/speaker/wilkinson/

The presenting officials seem optimistic with the direction of the Mayor's office, crime in most categories is either flat or decreasing. Property and crimes against persons is down, year over year, by ~26%. Buckhead itself is flat for the same year. Their solutions involve deterrents- more surveillance cameras, the crowd source ring network, more cars, more visible police presence. 

Buckhead Council of Neighborhoods Chair Debra Wathen discussed the creation of the Repeat Offenders Commission. [provides link to RepeatOffenderCommission_OnlineFormat.pdf]

Several articles from year ago are available with this search: https://duckduckgo.com/?q=repeat+offender+commission+Atlanta

The officials all echo the idea that Atlanta is falling short on retaining mid-career officers, owing to lack of adequate incentives/pay in that bracket. Their solution is more funding for that bracket, in this case funding charitable foundations to supplement the City's capacities.  

There was a cursory overview of the budget provided by the City Council President, Mr. Doug Shipman. 
https://citycouncil.atlantaga.gov/council-members/council-president-doug-shipman
District 9 Councilman Dustin Hillis was supposed to have presented the budget, but was unable to attend. Shipman said there is a need for hiring in Procurement and Public Works, where hiring has been flat; stated most APD officers lost during years 4-8; take home car program working well as an 'investment in public safety'. 

The budget is here:
https://www.atlantaga.gov/home/showpublisheddocument/59001/638183003461870000

You can contact our VP or any of the UHNA leadership via our website. ​