"Cop City" prepares to open in Atlanta

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Atlanta's massive public safety training facility at center of 'Cop City' protests prepares to open

Atlanta's new public safety training center that's been the subject of protests for years is finally built, and officials must now find a way to balance security with community building. Get a first look at the 85-acre, now-$115 million complex in the South River Forest in unincorporated DeKalb...
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Have been following this closely for the past several years. Kudos to Atlanta Mayor Andre Dickens for sticking to his guns here and not succumbing to a very intense and sometimes violent campaign against this training center.
 
I really never understood why people are so against a training center for police.

For clarity, since I got a dislike, I'm not saying that I don't understand why people are against it in the sense that I think everyone should be for it. I'm saying that I'm ignorant in this case as I've not really read much about it.
 
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UNCatTech said:
I really never understood why people are so against a training center for police.
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Because this facility will train them to be a militarized occupying force, rather than a community oriented police force serving and protecting the population.

Police training in this country is thoroughly broken, and that is manifest in the largely negative perception that police amongst most people these days. This place was built on the promise of taking that brokenness up to 11.
 
StrangePackage said:
Because this facility will train them to be a militarized occupying force, rather than a community oriented police force serving and protecting the population.

Police training in this country is thoroughly broken, and that is manifest in the largely negative perception that police amongst most people these days. This place was built on the promise of taking that brokenness up to 11.
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That's certainly what the opponents of this facility wanted people to believe.

In actuality, the Atlanta Police Department and the Atlanta Fire Department currently do not have adequate training centers as both have been condemned. APD and AFR personnel have had to travel lengthy distances on the city dime to receive standard training. This facility contains a burn building for AFR, classrooms to train Paramedics, Police Officers, Firefighters, and Dispatchers, a stable, a driving course, and a mock city to be used by both APD and AFR for various scenarios given that Atlanta is, in fact, a city.
 
I'm all for better trained/educated police. I would also like to see some kind of coordination with local schools to offer a tour AND training on what to do/not to do when interacting with law enforcement.
 
UNCBAdookJD said:
Yeah, that’s weird. One of the biggest issues with police is that they need more training, especially in community policing techniques and deescalation.
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And how much of that is part of the curriculum at Cop City?

Could that be attainable for less than 90 million dollars?
 
StrangePackage said:
And how much of that is part of the curriculum at Cop City?

Could that be attainable for less than 90 million dollars?
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Most of that money came from private donations. That said, training facilities can be expensive but the alternative of having undertrained first responders, especially for a city with the size and importance of Atlanta, is unacceptable to many.

Unfortunately, the cost for the facility ballooned due to acts of terrorism committed by its opponents.
 
UNCBAdookJD said:
Yeah, that’s weird. One of the biggest issues with police is that they need more training, especially in community policing techniques and deescalation.
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I’m all for police getting more training in deescalation; recognizing likely mental health issues, etc. I’ve seen nothing that makes me think that’s going to be a point of emphasis here. I don’t have a problem with the standard police training that will likely be the bread and butter of this facility. It’s a necessity. I do think those who were against it due to the price tag and how authorities appeared to have subverted legitimate efforts to oppose it have a legitimate beef. Likewise those who were arrested (by SWAT teams no less) for raising money for bail and legal aid for protesters charged with crimes.
 
StrangePackage said:
And how much of that is part of the curriculum at Cop City?

Could that be attainable for less than 90 million dollars?
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Now days? Who knows?

Cumming is building an administrative building that is costing over $100M. There's a lot of complaining about it too.

I've read that the schools being built in the counties around where I live in N. Georgia are averaging around $50M.
 
BlooVooDoo said:
I’m all for police getting more training in deescalation; recognizing likely mental health issues, etc. I’ve seen nothing that makes me think that’s going to be a point of emphasis here. I don’t have a problem with the standard police training that will likely be the bread and butter of this facility. It’s a necessity. I do think those who were against it due to the price tag and how authorities appeared to have subverted legitimate efforts to oppose it have a legitimate beef. Likewise those who were arrested (by SWAT teams no less) for raising money for bail and legal aid for protesters charged with crimes.
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Part of the reason that SWAT teams were involved was due to the violence exhibited by some of the opponents. An officer was shot by one, contractors who worked on the project had their equipment burned, potentially lethal booby traps were hidden in the woods that could have killed construction workers, etc.
 
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