Erika Shields

Erika Shields is an American law enforcement officer who served as the 24th Chief of Police of the Atlanta Police Department from 2016 to 2020. Shields resigned in June 2020 after the killing of Rayshard Brooks.

Erika Shields
24th Atlanta Chief of Police
In office
December 28, 2016 – June 13, 2020
MayorKasim Reed
Keisha Lance Bottoms
Preceded byGeorge N. Turner
Succeeded byRodney Bryant (interim)
Personal details
BornUpstate New York, U.S.
Alma mater

Early life and education

Shields is a native of Upstate New York.[1] She earned a bachelor of arts degree in international studies from Webster University and a master's degree in criminal justice from Saint Leo University.[2]

Career

Before joining the agency as a patrol officer in 1995, Chief Shields worked as a stockbroker in Boston.[3][4] She was the second woman to lead the Atlanta Police Department, and the first openly gay person to do so.[4]

On December 1, 2016, Atlanta Mayor Kasim Reed announced that he had selected Shields to succeed Chief George N. Turner, who was retiring.[5]

In May 2020, amid protests in Atlanta in response to the killing of George Floyd, Shields said that the angry reaction was understandable, and that the value of the lives of black people was being diminished by police or other individuals, stating that such events were a "recurring narrative". She added with some suggestions on how police could do better, namely better training and "weeding out bad cops", and praised the use of body-worn cameras.[6] Shields addressed demonstrators stating that she was happy to allow protests so long as they didn't violate laws. She stated her opposition to using force to halt the protests, stating that protestors have a right "to be upset, to be scared, and to want to yell".[7]

On June 13, 2020, Shields resigned after a video went viral of an officer fatally shooting a black man, Rayshard Brooks, who resisted arrest.[8][9][10][11]

References
  1. Christian Boone, The Atlanta Journal-Constitution. "For new Atlanta Police chief, challenges await". ajc. Retrieved 2020-06-14.
  2. "Chief Erika Shields | Atlanta Police Department". www.atlantapd.org. Retrieved 2020-06-13.
  3. "Atlanta Police Department : Chief Erika Shields". www.atlantapd.org. Archived from the original on October 23, 2019. Retrieved 2019-03-21.
  4. Reisigl, Joe (2017-05-30). "The Chief: Erika Shields wants to change the way Atlanta police tackle crime". Atlanta Magazine. Retrieved 2019-03-21.
  5. Leon Stafford, The Atlanta Journal-Constitution. "Deputy chief Erika Shields named Atlanta's 24th chief of police". ajc. Retrieved 2019-03-21.
  6. Farrer, Martin (30 May 2020). "Atlanta police chief says 'black lives being diminished' as Floyd protests grow". The Guardian.
  7. "'You have a right to be upset': Atlanta police chief addresses protesters during Floyd demonstrations". FOX 5 Atlanta. 30 May 2020.
  8. Siegel, Rachel (June 13, 2020). "Atlanta police chief resigns after law enforcement fatally shoots black man". The Washington Post. Retrieved 2020-06-13.
  9. Osborne, Mark; Hoyos, Joshua (13 June 2020). "Atlanta Police Chief Erika Shields resigns in wake of fatal shooting". ABC News. Retrieved 13 June 2020.
  10. "Atlanta officer fired after fatal shooting of black man". AP NEWS. 2020-06-14. Retrieved 2020-06-14.
  11. Browne, Malachy; Kelso, Christina; Marcolini, Barbara (2020-06-14). "How Rayshard Brooks Was Fatally Shot by the Atlanta Police". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2020-06-14.


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