Atlanta police officers called out sick and refused to answer calls on Thursday, according to the interim police chief.
The absences come in protest of charges against two Atlanta officers who responded to the incident that led to the shooting death of Rayshard Brooks
“Some are angry. Some are fearful. Some are confused on what we do in this space. Some may feel abandoned,” Interim Chief Rodney Bryant said of the officers to Associated Press.
“But we are there to assure them that we will continue to move forward and get through this.”
According to Bryant, sick calls began on Wednesday night and continued on Thursday. The interim chief said there is sufficient force to protect the city, although it is unknown how many officers have called out.
On Wednesday night, the International Brotherhood of Police South East Regional Director Vince Champion confirmed to V103 that officers walked off the job midshift.
Champion told V103: “The officers are sick and tired of this." Though Champion says the union "does not condone the actions of the officers."
The officers are from zones 3, 4, and 6 precincts in Atlanta, said the source.
On Wednesday afternoon, Fulton County District Attorney Paul Howard charged Garrett Rolfe, the officer who shot and killed Brooks, with 11 charges including felony murder, and Devin Brosnan, an officer who accompanied Rolfe on the call, with three charges.
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