Protests come before Atlanta City Council vote on massive police training facility amid officer shortage

Dozens of protesters gathered Sunday as the Atlanta City Council is expected to vote on a police training facility that supporters argue is necessary to train a new class of officers amid staffing shortages.

Just 85 acres will be developed for the facility, amended down from the initial 150 acres to be leased to the nonprofit, after residents during listening sessions last week voiced concerns about preserving additional green space. Sheperd argued to Fox 5 Atlanta that the city was in dire need of such facility, as its police force faces a morale crisis, staffing shortages and an uptick in violent crime.  As the force is short at least 200 officers, she said residents in neighborhoods affected by violent crime want the facility to train more police.