ATLANTA _ A veteran of the Atlanta police department, Erika Shields was former Mayor Kasim Reed's choice to take over as chief in December 2016. She became the second woman to serve as the city's top cop after the retirement of her predecessor, George Turner.
But on Saturday, Shields offered to resign her role as chief hours after one of her officers shot and killed a man, Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms announced at a news conference. "This was her decision to step aside as police chief," Bottoms said. The assistant chief to Shields, Rodney Bryant, will become the interim chief while the search begins to fill the job, Bottoms said. Shields will remain with APD, the mayor said.
The arrest comes on the heels of six Atlanta officers being arrested for the arrests of a young couple on May 30, the second night of downtown rallies held in response to the death of George Floyd in Minneapolis. On Saturday, the officer who fired the shot that killed Rayshard Brooks, 27, at a downtown Wendy's restaurant was also fired, Bottoms said.
Shields joined the Atlanta Police Department in 1995. During her tenure she has served as a patrol officer, sergeant, lieutenant and major prior to her appointment to deputy chief. She has a bachelor of arts in international studies from Webster University and a master's in criminal justice from Saint Leo University.
When she was sworn in as chief, Shields thanked Reed for the opportunity. "I am truly humbled to be given the opportunity to lead the Atlanta Police Department," Shields said. "I am truly grateful to the faith that Mayor Reed is showing in me," she said.At her first press conference in February 2017, Shields said reducing violent crime in Atlanta is the top priority for the city's police department. And repeat offenders, including juveniles, are a big part of the problem. "We have an obligation to the citizens of Atlanta to clean up this violent crime," Shields said.
Shields faced a monumental task in 2019 when the city hosted the Super Bowl, a major event requiring years of planning. The 10-day event was deemed a success for law enforcement.
