The Atlanta Police Department seems in the news a lot lately. Perhaps this is only because I've been watching more intensely. Of course, the mayor's race may have something to do with it. The police union recently endorsed Kasim Reed. Chief Pennington issued an order that officer have to cooperate with the civilian review board (CRB), although the officers do not have to testify before the board. Pennington is committed to keeping a CRB without the power to do its work, a stance consistent with the APD. He only issued this order after significant prodding from the CRB to keep his promise.

Lastly there is the CBS Atlanta story on bad cops, posted on November 16 and updated on November 17. While it's interesting to read the stories of cops gone bad, the problem is it positions police misconduct as the problem of a few bad apples. The lesson from the CBS story is that most cops are good people, but sometimes there are bad ones. We have to weed out the bad ones and we'll be fine. What if the problem is systemic? What if we're not talking about bad apples, but a tree that produces poison fruit?

If this sounds interesting, I recommend Kristian Williams's book, Our Enemies in Blue.

For what it's worth, the CBS Atlanta story is reprinted below.

CBS Atlanta News Investigates Cops On Other Side Of Law

http://www.cbsatlanta.com/news/21632579/detail.html

ATLANTA -- CBS Atlanta News is asking tough questions about good cops gone bad. The people protecting the streets in Atlanta have found themselves behind bars for drinking and driving and even charged with murder. In less than two years, 27 Atlanta police officers have had run-ins with the law, some of them more than once.

Reporter Jennifer Mayerle asked Maj. Lane Hagin what the arrests say about the department.

“It says police officers are human. Certainly it's not the image we want to present as a police department,” said Hagin.

CBS Atlanta News obtained video of Officer William Greenwell after drinking with another Atlanta police officer. He stumbles during a sobriety test, telling the Smyrna Police officer who pulled him over he had eight or nine mixed drinks. The incident reports shows Greenwell’s initial blood alcohol level was .17. He pleaded guilty to DUI.

John Freeman is in jail awaiting trial on a charge of murder. He admits shooting the security guard at his apartment complex multiple times.

“It’s embarrassing to even have someone accused of that as a police officer, and certainly if it's proven to be true and he's convicted, that's a black eye,” said Hagin.

Edward Rabb was charged with the rape of a neighbor in 2008. The District Attorney’s office decided not to take the case to court. Less than a year later, he was arrested for drinking and driving. Reports show he blew an initial .18, more than twice the legal limit. Police reports show his "eyes were blood shot and watery, and he had urinated on himself."

William Rucker is another double offender. Video CBS Atlanta News obtained of Rucker weaving in and out of traffic is what landed him in jail for a week, while APD kept him on the payroll. He was found guilty of numerous traffic violations. Rucker was also jailed for lying to police in South Carolina. Rucker is currently on desk duty.

Stephen Moyet was charged with simple assault and battery for attacking a fellow officer responding to a domestic 911 call.

Two officers resigned while still under investigation. Justin Green pleaded guilty to hit and run. He didn't resign until he tested positive for cocaine, and admitted to losing his gun while out partying.

Duane Grundy was already on administrative leave when he was locked up for the attack on then girlfriend, Brittani Lewis. Lewis said she feared for her life.

“He actually started choking me, and my head was down in my leather couches and I couldn't breathe. My 3-year-old son was hitting him, fighting him, trying to pull his pants, trying to get him off of me,” said Lewis.

Grundy also admitted to smoking marijuana while working at APD. CBS Atlanta News has learned he is now working at Lenox mall.

Mayerle asked Hagin what the department is doing to make sure there aren't any more black eyes.

“We have good people here, we have good training. There's a very stringent hiring process that we put people through,” said Hagin.

If you see cops behaving badly, you can file a report with the department they work for over the phone or in person. You can also contact the Office of Professional Standards.