Several Atlanta police officers called in sick after the Fulton County district attorney announced a felony murder charge, among others, against the officer who shot and killed Rayshard Brooks last week.
The police department has not specified how many officers called out during a shift change Wednesday night but said there were “a higher than usual number of call outs with the incoming shift.”
“Earlier suggestions that multiple officers from each zone had walked off the job were inaccurate. The department is experiencing a higher than usual number of call outs with the incoming shift. We have enough resources to maintain operations & remain able to respond to incidents,” the Atlanta Police Department said.
Earlier suggestions that multiple officers from each zone had walked off the job were inaccurate. The department is experiencing a higher than usual number of call outs with the incoming shift. We have enough resources to maintain operations & remain able to respond to incidents.
— Atlanta Police Department (@Atlanta_Police) June 18, 2020
“Blue Flu” began trending on Twitter following the call outs.
The mayor of the city, Keisha Lance Bottoms, also addressed the number of police officers who called out of the shift during an interview with CNN.
“We do have enough officers to cover us through the night,” she said. “Our streets won’t be any less safe because of the number of officers who called out.”
Former officer Garrett Rolfe faces 11 charges, including felony murder, and could face life in prison, life without parole, or the death penalty if convicted, District Attorney Paul Howard Jr. said Wednesday. Officer Devin Brosnan, who was also on the scene when Brooks was shot, faces an aggravated assault charge.
Rolfe was fired 24 hours after the shooting, and Brosnan was placed on desk duty. The pair had responded to a report of a man asleep in his car who was blocking traffic in a Wendy’s fast-food drive-thru lane last Friday evening. The officers found Rayshard Brooks in his car and administered a sobriety test, which he failed.
The officers attempted to bring Brooks into custody, but he resisted arrest and struggled with the officers to get his hands on a police Taser. Video shows Brooks managed to get the Taser and aimed it towards the officers. Rolfe then fired his gun three times, hitting and killing Brooks.
Police Union spokesman Vince Champion told NBC that Atlanta officers called in sick in protest of the charges filed against Rolfe.
“ATL Police Union spokeman Vince Champion tells me that officers around the city are protesting the charges announced against officers Rolfe and Brosnan. He says they’re walking off the job, not responding to calls unless backup is needed, and going silent on the radios,” an NBC producer said.
NEW: ATL Police Union spokeman Vince Champion tells me that officers around the city are protesting the charges announced against officers Rolfe and Brosnan. He says they’re walking off the job, not responding to calls unless backup is needed, and going silent on the radios.
— Charlie Gile (@CharlieGileNBC) June 18, 2020
The death spurred more riots and protests in the city, which was already grappling with civil unrest following the death of an unarmed black man, George Floyd, who died in Minneapolis police custody on Memorial Day.
