Atlanta Police Failed To Follow Reforms After Eagle Raid

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May 5th, 2015

On Sept. 10, 2009, Atlanta police stormed the Atlanta Eagle without a warrant. Two years later, the city settled a federal lawsuit related to the raid, promising to change how it trains police officers. On Tuesday, a city official admitted APD hadn’t fully implemented several of those requirements.

ALISON GUILLORY / WABE

For the second time in less than a week, an attorney for the City of Atlanta admitted to a federal judge the Atlanta Police Department hasn’t fully followed the court’s order.

The case goes back to the botched 2009 raid on the Atlanta Eagle, a Midtown gay bar. In 2011, the city agreed to settle a federal civil rights lawsuit for $1 million. But in addition to the money, the court also required the Atlanta Police Department implement a host of reforms – everything from retraining officers on lawful search and seizure procedures to the use of nametags.

Atlanta Police Maj. Jeff Glazier talks to reporters outside of the Russell Federal Courthouse Tuesday. Glazier, who was in charge of an initial round of officer training related to the Eagle raid, says follow-up measures will begin “immediately.” (JIM BURRESS/WABE)

But in federal court Tuesday, Deputy City Attorney Robert Godfrey admitted the APD had been lax – which deviated from the city’s earlier promise to fight the charges. Godfrey assured Judge Timothy Batten the city would now comply fully with the order.

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