Mayor Andre Dickens heard two different sides of Atlanta’s opinions on the proposed Public Safety Training Center during public appearances.
The facility was approved by Atlanta City Council in September 2021 after hours of public comments opposing it. Following that decision, some protesters began to live in the forest to stop the development. On Jan. 18, 2023, an operation to remove protesters from the forest resulted in the death of activist Manuel Terán and the injury of a Georgia state trooper.
Neighbors said the police training center isn’t the kind of development they want to see in the area.
On Jan. 31, Dickens was joined by DeKalb County CEO Michael Thurmond to announce that the project had secured the final permit necessary to begin construction. Protesters gathered at City Hall in opposition to the decision.
(READ MORE: Despite ‘Cop City’ protests, Atlanta moves forward with plan)