Civil rights groups demand internal Atlanta police records for 2 officers
Civil rights groups demand internal APD records
Two civil rights organizations are reportedly calling on the Atlanta Police Department to release internal records they say could reveal a troubling pattern of misconduct by off-duty officers.
ATLANTA - Two civil rights organizations are reportedly calling on the Atlanta Police Department to release internal records they say could reveal a troubling pattern of misconduct by off-duty officers.
What we know:
The National Police Accountability Project and the Southern Center for Human Rights are specifically citing recent incidents involving Officers Melvin Potter and Garrett Rolfe. They are also requesting files related to the four Atlanta PD recruits who were let go after an incident at a local nightclub.
Rolfe is currently on administrative leave and facing a simple battery charge after a reported bar fight. Potter, meanwhile, remains on paid leave after fatally shooting a man last year while off duty.
Potter shot 38-year-old Devon Anderson outside of a bar on Old National Highway. At the time of the shooting, he was reportedly on probation for a DUI arrest in Coweta County in 2021. He was placed on paid leave while an investigation was conducted.
Garrett Rolfe and Melvin Potter. Photos courtesy of Fulton County Sheriff's Office
RELATED: Ex-deputy demands firing of APD officer involved in deadly 2024 bar shooting
Rolfe shot and killed 27-year-old Rayshard Brooks in 2020 outside a Wendy's restaurant along University Avenue in southeast Atlanta. He was initially fired and charged with murder and aggravated assault. The prosecution dropped all charges in August 2022 and the shooting was determined to be justified.
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Four Atlanta police recruits were dismissed dur to off-duty misconduct last month outside a nightclub in East Point. One of the recruits, Wendy Celestin, allegedly fired multiple shots outside the U-Bar.
RELATED: Atlanta police recruits dismissed after altercation at East Point business, officials say
What they're saying:
The two organizations have requested disciplinary records, incident reports, termination files, and documentation of any prior employment issues or conduct concerns related to the officers involved. They say the information is key to evaluating how APD handles allegations of misconduct and whether current procedures are adequate to ensure accountability.
"Officers who abuse power — whether in uniform or at a bar after hours — are a threat to public safety," said Tiffany Roberts, attorney and Director of Public Policy at the Southern Center for Human Rights. "We’re demanding records because Atlanta residents deserve to know who’s policing their communities, and what happens when those officers cross the line."
Devin Barrington-Ward, with the National Police Accountability Project, stated, "The bartender, even though he was the victim of the assault, was the individual who was arrested. And Officer Rolfe was not arrested that night."
Barrington-Ward also voiced concern that the lack of immediate action could give the public the impression that law enforcement is above the law, whether on or off duty. The civil rights groups are now calling for the release of internal police records concerning off-duty officers involved in similar incidents.
"This is not an isolated situation," Barrington-Ward said, citing the recent termination of four APD recruits following a nightclub altercation. The civil rights groups have requested disciplinary records, incident reports, and policies related to off-duty officer misconduct.
Barrington-Ward emphasized, "Can the public really respect, trust or rely on public safety officials in the city of Atlanta if they are engaging in criminal conduct and then not being held accountable for that criminal conduct?"
What we don't know:
NPAP and SCHR are urging the City Council’s Committee on Public Safety and Legal Administration to convene a formal hearing or special work session. The proposed hearing would focus on APD’s handling of off-duty misconduct, disciplinary delays, and the lack of transparency that continues to erode public trust.