ATLANTA — Atlanta's top cop is being recognized for her work and commitment to the community.
Atlanta Police Chief Erika Shields was featured in GO Magazine's "100 Women We Love: Class Of 2019".
The magazine said the list includes diverse group of women - including entertainers, activists, business leaders and elected officials.
"Each one of these women, in her own unique way, is a role model who exemplifies the best of the LGBTQ community," GO Magazine said. "Their achievements enrich our lives and make our world a better place."
APD celebrated her in a post on Facebook, saying her feature puts a spotlight on the need for community-based policing.
"As the second female police chief in APD history and the first to be openly gay, Chief Shields is aware of the diversity that surrounds the Atlanta community, which is also reflective within the Atlanta Police Department," the post reads.
In the profile on Shields, GO Magazine talks about her zero-tolerance policy for police brutality and the expectations she holds herself and her officers to each day.
Chief Shields has made it known in the past that she would like to create a culture of transparency at APD.
Even a few months a go, Shields made headlines after the department announced they would be pulling its officers from federal tasks forces. The move came after a controversial police shooting, after which the department changed its policy on body cameras.
In the new bodycam policy, Shields wanted strict penalties for officers who fail to activate them.
In the magazine profile, the article said Shields believes police are a part of the communities they serve.
"We are privy to the unique inner workings of multiple different and distinct cultures, religions, backgrounds, and sub-groups,” Shields told GO. “To be effective, we need to navigate these communities with awareness and empathy, while simultaneously ensuring that critical law enforcement efforts are being executed at a high level.”
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