ATLANTA — Atlanta police officers who lose a firearm or have it stolen out of their patrol cars could now be fined or suspended, according to a newly-enacted policy.
“When firearms are stolen from vehicles, they can be used in crimes,” said Officer Jarius Daugherty with the Atlanta Police Department. “We need to be sure that none of our weapons are easily stolen.”
Sworn personnel in all division of the Atlanta Police Department will now face a minimum 3-day suspension and a fine of up to $500, if their service weapon is stolen out of an unsecured police car.
From 2010 to 2018, about 55 firearms have been reported as lost or stolen by Atlanta police officers – averaging about seven every year. Daugherty said that, in general, about 1,000 firearms are stolen out of cars across the city every year.
“It’s an important issue and one we have to lead by example on,” Daugherty said.
