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Applicable To:  Bureau, division, and section commanders

Approval Authority:  Chief George N. Turner

Signature:  Signed by GNT

Date Signed:  9/7/10

1.               PURPOSE

To establish a Citizens Advisory Council in each zone.

2.               POLICY

Citizen involvement is an important part of the Department's approach to community policing.  The Citizen Advisory Councils are a mechanism for citizen involvement in the management of their municipal resources.  The councils will improve understanding and communication between the police and the citizens.

3.               RESPONSIBILITIES

3.1              Zone commanders are responsible for the citizen advisory councils in their respective zones.

4.               ACTION

4.1              Membership

4.1.1           Each zone will have a citizen advisory council.  The zone commander will select members from the community so as to be representative of the community.  Each NPU and major business group in the zone should be represented.  The membership should reflect the demographic makeup of the zone.

4.1.2           The council will have at least five members.  There should only be one council per zone, but if it becomes necessary to have multiple councils, organize them according to NPU boundaries to keep the councils focused on community issues.

4.2              Term of office

4.2.1           The term of office is two years.  In the first year of operation, half of the council members will be appointed to one year terms; thereafter, their successors will be appointed to two-year terms.

4.2.2           As a general rule, members will not succeed themselves.  When it is necessary to appoint a member to a second consecutive term, the zone commander will explain the reason in a memorandum to the division commander. 

4.3              Meetings

4.3.1           The zone commander will meet with each citizen advisory council at least once a quarter.  The commander will notify the council members and the division commander of the date, time, and place of the meeting at least two weeks in advance.

4.3.2           The zone commander may call on other divisions and sections within the Department to attend meetings when issues under their purview will be discussed.

4.3.3           The zone secretary will keep the minutes of the proceedings of the Advisory Council in books provided for this purpose; maintain a ready reference of minutes; a roster of members and other pertinent list as directed by the zone commander.  The zone commander will forward a report to the division commander within three working days, with copies to those who attended.  The report will list who attended the meeting and summarize the issues discussed.

4.3.4           The purpose of the meetings is to discuss issues relevant to the delivery of police services and to facilitate the implementation of community policing in Atlanta.  It will involve citizens directly in municipal problem solving and multi-agency involvement.  Optimally, this program will develop plans to address both long and short-term issues important to the respective communities.

5.               DEFINITIONS

                  N/A

6.               CANCELLATIONS

                  APD.SOP.4030 “Citizen Advisory Councils”, April 1, 2007

7.               REFERENCES

                  N/A