Wealthiest Area Of Atlanta Pushes For Its Own Police Force Amid Crime Wave

Crime is skyrocketing in Atlanta, and the wealthiest neighborhood in the city doesn’t want any part of it.

Buckhead officials are advocating to break free from the city and establish its own law enforcement agency in response to the 80% surge in homicides so far in 2021, according to the Daily Mail.

That 80% spike comes from January 1 to February 20. During that time span, Atlanta tracked 18 homicides. The Atlanta Police Department confirmed that it’s an 80% increase from the same time last year, and that shooting incidents are up 32%, robberies are up 17% and aggravated assaults are up 47%, the Wall Street Journal reported Thursday (March 11).

The publication also shared video of a Buckhead resident’s Nest surveillance footage. It shows a resident realizing he’d been followed home by a man who pulled a rifle from his car. The resident quickly darted into his home, the Journal showed.

The Buckhead Exploratory Committee is taking action as citizens feel “genuinely concerned for their safety.”

Although Buckhead has previously considered establishing itself as its own municipality, the new crime wave has led to a renewed effort, according to the Daily Mail. Last fall, the Buckhead Security Plan aimed to address the rise in crime, including through deterrence and enforcement, and policy and procedural change.

“Our residents are genuinely concerned for their safety and the safety of their family members,” the committee told the Wall Street Journal. “Residents must be wary and 'on guard' continuously, even when doing routine tasks like going to the gas station, nearby shopping mall, shopping at the grocery store or just pulling into their driveways, mindful if anyone is lurking in the bushes.”

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