US: Atlanta police call out sick over charges in fatal shooting

Atlanta police officers called out sick to protest filing of murder charges against an officer who shot a man in back, while interim chief ackwledged members of force feel abandoned amid protests demanding massive changes to policing.

Interim Chief Rodney Bryant told Associated Press in an interview that sick calls began Wednesday night and continued Thursday, but said department had sufficient staff to protect city. It’s t clear how many officers called out.

“Some are angry. Some are fearful. Some are confused on what we do in this . Some may feel abandoned," Bryant said of officers. "But we are re to assure m that we will continue to move forward and get through this.”

Prosecutors brought felony murder and or charges against Garrett Rolfe, a white officer who shot Rayshard Brooks after 27-year-old black man grabbed a Taser during a struggle and ran, firing it at officer, Fulton County District Attorney Paul Howard said.

Four months before Brooks was killed, Reconnect, a company that focuses on fighting incarceration and addiction, interviewed him about year he spent in jail. He said criminal justice system treats people incarcerated within like “animals.”

“Some of system could, you kw, looks at us as individuals," Brooks said. "We do have lives, you kw, we're just a mistake we made.”

He said having a record hindered formerly incarcerated from trying to “provide for ourselves as far as getting a job and getting ourselves back on track.”

Howard said Brooks was t a deadly threat at time and that Rolfe kicked wounded man and offered medical treatment for over two minutes as Brooks lay dying. Ar officer, Devin Brosnan, who district attorney said stood on Brooks’ shoulder as he struggled for his life, was charged with aggravated assault and violation of his oath.

Rolfe and Brosnan both contend ir actions were justified and turned mselves in Thursday. Jail records show Brosnan was released on a signature bond, meaning he only has to pay if he fails to show up for court, while Rolfe was being held without bond. Rolfe was fired and Brosnan placed on desk duty.

A few hours after reporting to Fulton County jail in Atlanta, Rolfe was moved to jail in neighboring Gwinnett County, according to online records.

decision to prosecute officers came less than five days after killing rocked a city — and a nation — still reeling after George Floyd’s death at hands of police in Minneapolis set off nationwide protests that have urged an extensive rethink of policing and an examination of racism in United States.

L. Chris Stewart, a lawyer for Tomika Miller, Brooks’ widow, told reporters charging of officers brought family joy.

“Some people thought that we’d be happy and be celebrating and have a fist in air, but it’s more a disappointment that this is state of policing and this is where we’re at,” he said.

In his video interview with Reconnect, Brooks, a far, promised to “keep going until I make it to where I want to be."

Bryant, who took over after previous chief resigned resigned in wake of shooting, wore a navy blue shirt Thursday, rar than white shirt typically worn by command staff, to show solidarity with officers.

In roughly three weeks since protests first broke out in Georgia's capital, officers have worked shifts of 12 or more hours and have been yelled at, spit on and had things thrown at m, Bryant said.

“At some point, people get tired, I recognize that, and physically exhausted,” he said. "We will definitely get beyond it, and I’m certain that we will see our sick-outs drop back to rmal, aver.”

weeks since Floyd's killing have seen lawmakers pass police reforms, Americans reconsider statues commemorating controversial figures, and ideas like defunding police become part of national conversation. But drive for change has also drawn pushback, and divisions over role police should play are becoming a major political flashpoint.

Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp, a Republican, issued a strong mess of support for police Thursday.

“We remember those who died in line of duty and ir families, who still mourn ir passing,” he said in a video his office posted to social media.

While some have hailed prosecutor's office for moving quickly in Brooks killing, Bryant said he was surprised at speed, ting that Georgia Bureau of Investigation hadn’t yet finished its probe.

He would t say how many officers called out. But just one officer showed up for work Thursday morning in one zone, which several dozen are assigned to patrol, according to Vince Champion, souast regional director for International Brorhood of Police Officers.

Atlanta officers are walking off ir shifts or t responding to calls because y feel “abandoned, betrayed, used in a political game,” Champion told AP.

Champion said he’s heard from several officers that y fear using force to protect mselves will get m fired or arrested.

Brooks’ funeral is set for Tuesday at Atlanta’s historic Ebenezer Baptist Church, which was Rev. Martin Lur King Jr.’s congregation, Rev. Raphael Warck anunced. Tyler Perry, actor and filmmaker, has offered financial help for services, officials said.

Warck urged people to remember all lives lost in recent weeks in interactions with police.

“Tragically and involuntarily y all have become visible victims in an urgent public conversation about justice and fairness in our nation,” said Warck.

Police in Atlanta were called to a Wendy's last week over complaints of a car blocking drive-thru lane and found Brooks asleep behind wheel. A breath test showed he was intoxicated. Officers had a relatively calm conversation with Brooks before things rapidly turned violent when y tried to handcuff him.

Rolfe shot Brooks after he grabbed a Taser, fired it and ran, Howard, prosecutor, said. But when officer fired, Brooks was too far from him for Taser to be a danger, and it had already been fired twice, so it was empty, Howard said.

Rolfe’s lawyers said he feared for his and ors' safety. Rolfe opened fire after hearing a sound “like a gunshot and saw a flash in front of him,” apparently from Taser.

felony murder charge against Rolfe, 27, carries life in prison or death penalty, if prosecutors decide to seek it. He was also charged with 10 or offenses punishable by decades behind bars.

district attorney said or officer, Brosnan, 26, is cooperating with prosecutors and will testify. But his attorneys said he hasn't agreed to be a witness for prosecutors.

One of his lawyers, Don Samuel, said Thursday that Brosnan suffered a concussion during struggle with Brooks and put his foot on Brooks only briefly when he heard gunshots because he didn't kw where y were coming from and was worried Brooks may have had access to a weapon.