Metro Atlanta
Metro Atlanta

READ: Atlanta Police Chief Shields’ statement upon resigning

In this Dec. 1, 2016, photo Deputy Chief Erika Shields is named Atlanta's 24th chief of police at City Hall, replacing George Turner who was retiring. Shields joined the Atlanta Police Department in 1995. "I am truly humbled, honored and grateful for this opportunity you have afforded me," she said following the announcement of her appointment. (Photo: JOHN SPINK /JSPINK@AJC.COM)

Credit: JOHN SPINK / AJC

Credit: JOHN SPINK / AJC

In this Dec. 1, 2016, photo Deputy Chief Erika Shields is named Atlanta's 24th chief of police at City Hall, replacing George Turner who was retiring. Shields joined the Atlanta Police Department in 1995. "I am truly humbled, honored and grateful for this opportunity you have afforded me," she said following the announcement of her appointment. (Photo: JOHN SPINK /JSPINK@AJC.COM)
June 13, 2020

The Atlanta Police Department released this statement Saturday evening from Police Chief Erika Shields, whose resignation was announced at a news conference by Atlanta Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms.

"For more than two decades, I have served alongside some of the finest men and women in the Atlanta Police Department. Out of a deep and abiding love for this City and this department, I offered to step aside as police chief. APD has my full support, and Mayor Bottoms has my support on the future direction of this department. I have faith in the Mayor, and it is time for the city to move forward and build trust between law enforcement and the communities they serve."

» READ MORE: Erika Shields steps aside after 3½ years as APD chief

» READ MORE: Developments on Saturday after the fatal police shooting

More Stories

Keep Reading

The sun sets over Atlanta City Hall on Monday, June 5, 2023, in Atlanta. (Jason Getz / Jason.Getz@ajc.com)

Credit: Jason Getz / Jason.Getz@ajc.com

Atlanta employees asked to return to City Hall in April

Atlanta Mayor Andre Dickens administration has mandated that thousands of employees return to in-person work at City Hall in April.

Ed Buckley, top Atlanta civil rights lawyer, dies after cancer battle

Prominent Atlanta-based employment and civil rights attorney Ed Buckley died Wednesday after battling cancer.

Turning left will never be the same: GDOT to open new interchange in DeKalb

The Georgia Department of Transportation expects to open a “displaced left turn” on Saturday at the intersection of North Druid Hills Road and I-85.

The Latest

Traffic builds up on the downtown connector just south of the city. Monday, November 25, 2024 (Ben Hendren for the Atlanta Journal-Constitution)

Credit: Ben Hendren

Gridlock Guy: Lessons learned from becoming a true Atlanta commuter

Atlanta employees asked to return to City Hall in April

Cumming city employee charged in vehicle death of coworker

Featured

Orange Crush event organizer Steven Smalls looks out at Tybee Island's South Beach, site of the 2025 HBCU spring break festival scheduled for April 19 on Georgia's coast. (Justin Taylor/The Atlanta Journal Constitution)

Credit: Justin Taylor for The Atlanta Journal Constitution

Make Orange Crush sweet again? New era dawns for infamous HBCU beach party

Orange Crush, an HBCU spring break party at a Georgia beach, enters a new era this April with a sanctioned festival organizers hope will attract 30,000 attendees

Gridlock Guy: Lessons learned from becoming a true Atlanta commuter

After years of covering conditions during drive time, I am a part of the gridlock daily. Here are a few lessons that my joining the masses in Atlanta traffic has given me.

Is Atlanta still America’s Black mecca? This native isn’t so sure

A new monthly content series from UATL — the AJC’s Black culture franchise — will shed light on the reality (or mirage) behind this question.