Violent crime in Atlanta is up nearly 60% from a year ago according to city police department statistics.
In order to bring the problem under control, candidate for Atlanta Mayor Felicia Moore says one of the first moves she'll make if elected will be to hire a new police chief.
Current APD Chief Rodney Bryant was brought on as interim in the summer of 2020 after Erika Shields resigned following the police shooting death of Rayshard Brooks.
Moore, President of Atlanta City Council, tells Audacy Atlanta's Maria Boynton about her immediate plan to deal with the crime issue. When her administration comes onboard Moore says she'd appoint an interim chief and conduct a nationwide search for a permanent one, "I'll be looking at all the available applicants in making the final best decision for the city of Atlanta."
According to Moore, she would move the city forward and out from under the 'cloud of corruption', that she says continues to linger from the administration of former mayor Kasim Reed.
A federal investigation into corruption at City Hall has resulted in guilty pleas and indictments among members of Reed's administration. Reed has qualified to run for a third term as mayor.
Listen to the full interview with candidate Moore below.