Officials advance plans to build Atlanta’s public safety training facility

Atlanta Mayor Andre Dickens says at a news conference at City Hall on Jan. 31 that there are certain environmental protections in a memorandum of understanding with DeKalb County to move forward with the construction of a $90 million public safety training facility in the South River Forest. (Matthew Pearson/WABE)

Atlanta Mayor Andre Dickens pledged to enact certain environmental protections after signing a memorandum of understanding with DeKalb County to move forward with the construction of a $90 million public safety training facility in the South River Forest.

While the changes are being touted as a compromise from the plan that was talked about in early 2021, no new compromises have been made.

The announcement at Atlanta City Hall on Tuesday comes in the wake of intense protests against the so-called “Cop City” over the past two weeks due to the fatal shooting of an environmental activist, Manuel Esteban Paez Teran, who authorities say shot a state trooper during a raid at the proposed site.