Atlanta Police Chief Pennington Resigns
November 24, 2009 at 5:48 pm by Andisheh Nouraee in News
Six weeks before a new mayor was to replace him, and one day after publicly acknowledging his responsibility for the 2006 police killing of 92-year-old Kathryn Johnston, WSB-TV reports Atlanta Police Chief Richard Pennington resigned today.
UPDATE: Read Mayor Franklin’s response below in comments.
(CL file photo Joeff Davis)
November 24th, 2009 at 6:08 pm
Thanks for all the proactive and diligent work, chief. Just let me know where I can pick up all the things that have been burglarized and stolen from me over the past 18 months before you leave.
Oh, be sure to take your perception of crime with you.
November 24th, 2009 at 6:30 pm
You mean Atlanta had a Police Chief? Who would have known?
November 24th, 2009 at 6:45 pm
The amount of officers is up 30%, crime is down 25% and is at a 30 yr low. Good job Chief!
November 24th, 2009 at 8:54 pm
Unless I’m missing something, this isn’t new news. Everyone at City Hall and beyond has known that Pennington was resigning.
Andisheh: Did you attend today’s news conference? The most interesting comment came after Pennington said that he was resigning effective Dec 31. In response, the mayor said, “…and I will not accept the resignation until Jan 4″ (the last day of her term of office).
November 24th, 2009 at 10:08 pm
This photo is worthy of a Pulitzer Prize.
A picture (is) worth a thousand words.
Body language, anyone?
Set dressing?
Brothers-in-arms?
November 24th, 2009 at 11:44 pm
Several months ago Chief Pennington announced his intention to resign at the end of my term which ends with the inauguration of the new mayor the first Monday in January. Today at our press conference the Chief confirmed he will be leaving his position as previously announced. Additionally, Assistant Chief Dreher announced his departure in a few days. With combined service of over 70 years Pennington and Dreher have led the reform of the department after years of neglect, weak leadership and hardly any investment in training or compensation. The Chief and Assistant Chief have performed their jobs in Atlanta exceedingly well. The results speak volumes. Not only did APD achieve national accreditation, violent crime is lower, officers are better trained, equipped and compensated and the city is safer. No longer is Atlanta the most violent city in America nor is the department in complette disarray as it was in 2002. I wish both Chief Pennington and Chief Dreher Godspeed as they pursue other professional opportunities.
November 25th, 2009 at 6:53 am
take that, haterz. as long as i have shirley at least I know someone loves me. next year i may needz to get me a puppy, tho. no offense, shirl.
November 30th, 2009 at 9:21 pm
No one cares about the actual numbers. No one cares that crime dropped under Franklin and Pennington.
Well I remember well the crime we had in 2002 and the severe blight that permeated this city before Franklin took over. Franklin and the Chief will be sorely missed.
November 30th, 2009 at 9:56 pm
when you have neighborhood yahoo groups and newsletters reporting the crime in your neighborhood, month after month, week after week and day after day, suddenly those car break-ins (which were happening long before Shirley took office and will occur long after) seem like they are an epidemic. I think, as an intown resident myself, that it’s the influx of new residents with higher expectations about crime prevention and more frequent and faster communication about crime in neighborhoods that HAS changed perception about crime in Atlanta … despite the good work and overall improvement of public safety under the Franklin administration.
December 1st, 2009 at 8:12 am
Atl. Dist 6 Resident: Well said.