ATLANTA _ Lakea Gaither had known only one job in her adult life. She joined the Atlanta Police Department as a 22-year-old recruit, and in the 18 years since, she was repeatedly recognized for her standout work as part of the gangs unit. Officer of the Year in 2013. Investigator of the Year in 2015.
Back in May, just before Atlanta's summer of unrest began, Gaither took a break that lasted through much of the summer, a time when violent crime in Atlanta skyrocketed.
Yet during her absence, "not one white shirt called," said Gaither, using the nickname reserved for police higher-ups. "It was very disheartening. That's when I decided it was time to leave."
Gaither was one of 37 APD officers who either retired or resigned in August. Twenty-six departed in July.
Nearly twice as many officers have left the city of Atlanta force this year compared with 2019, internal documents reveal. Many, like Gaither, said they felt underappreciated both by their bosses and city leadership.
At the same time, the city's murder rate is up 40% this year from the same point in 2019. Shootings have risen 29%; aggravated assaults, 8%, APD records show.
Police departments in Chicago, Minneapolis and Seattle are also reporting significant personnel losses. And, as in Atlanta, violent crime in those cities has increased.
"These are some of the more experienced officers we had that are leaving," said Gaither, now an investigator with the DeKalb County district attorney's office. Her former partner on the gangs unit, Ty Dennis, also retired in August, accepting a job as a district safety officer for a suburban school district in his native St. Louis. That's another 16 years of experience out the door.
"Everyone's exploring their options," Dennis told The Atlanta Journal-Constitution. "They make us feel like we're all replaceable. OK, we'll see."
