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Checked against the record · Georgia Governor 2026

Did Keisha Lance Bottoms bring in experts to advise Atlanta police on use of force?

Matches stated record claim. In 2020 she set up a use-of-force advisory council whose members included lawyers, acted on 16 of its 33 recommendations, and hired a police research group to review policy.

Keisha Lance Bottoms

Outside advice on police use of force

Matches stated record claim

What they say

Her campaign says she brought in leading civil rights attorneys and policing experts to advise the Atlanta police on use of force and de-escalation.

“Brought in some of the country’s leading civil rights attorneys and policing experts to advise on Atlanta Police Department tactics and policies, including use-of-force standards and de-escalation training”

What the record shows ·

In June 2020 she set up a use-of-force advisory council by administrative order and ordered new police rules, including de-escalation. The council's report says its members included lawyers, with co-chairs from Gideon's Promise and the Southern Center for Human Rights. On Nov. 18, 2020, she announced the city had retained the Police Executive Research Forum to review police policy and training.

Limit: Her August 2020 orders acted on 16 of the council's 33 recommendations.

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Sources6 source records

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  1. Keisha for Governor, track record: public safety and community supporthttps://www.keishaforgovernor.com/issues/housing

    Keisha for Governor · Reviewed Sep 25, 2026

    Read 2026-09-25. The detail page behind the public safety item on her track record page. The site files it at /issues/housing.

    candidate statement

    For: Did Keisha Lance Bottoms bring in experts to advise Atlanta police on use of force?

  2. Convening of Use of Force Advisory Councilhttps://justicereform.atlantaga.gov/article/convening-of-use-of-force-advisory-council-2

    City of Atlanta, One Atlanta criminal justice reform site · Reviewed Sep 25, 2026

    June 2020. She issued an administrative order to convene an advisory council on the city's use of force policies.

    official office record

    For: Did Keisha Lance Bottoms bring in experts to advise Atlanta police on use of force?

  3. Administrative Orders Related to Transforming APDhttps://justicereform.atlantaga.gov/article/administrative-orders-signed-2-3

    City of Atlanta, One Atlanta criminal justice reform site · Reviewed Sep 25, 2026

    June 2020. Her orders adopting use of force reforms, including de-escalation and a duty to intervene in unreasonable deadly force.

    official office record

    For: Did Keisha Lance Bottoms bring in experts to advise Atlanta police on use of force?

  4. Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms Issues Orders to Act Upon Use of Force Advisory Council's 45-day Recommendationshttps://web.archive.org/web/20210401192441/https://www.atlantaga.gov/Home/Components/News/News/13424/

    City of Atlanta, Mayor's Office of Communications · Published Aug 5, 2020 · Reviewed Sep 25, 2026

    Her office's release of Aug. 5, 2020. Seven administrative orders address 16 of the council's 33 recommendations. Archived copy; the city's site blocks this desk.

    official office record

    For: Did Keisha Lance Bottoms bring in experts to advise Atlanta police on use of force?

  5. Use of Force Advisory Council reporthttps://web.archive.org/web/20201017222322id_/https://www.atlantaga.gov/home/showdocument?id=47579

    City of Atlanta · Reviewed Sep 25, 2026

    The council's 2020 report, linked from the city's reform site. Lists its members, including co-chairs from Gideon's Promise and the Southern Center for Human Rights, and says they included lawyers. Archived copy; the city's site blocks this desk. sha256 e3aebe744bf0.

    official office record

    For: Did Keisha Lance Bottoms bring in experts to advise Atlanta police on use of force?

  6. Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms Announces Next Steps to Reform Public Safety in Atlantahttps://web.archive.org/web/20201119180447/https://www.atlantaga.gov/Home/Components/News/News/13489/672

    City of Atlanta, Mayor's Office of Communications · Published Nov 18, 2020 · Reviewed Sep 25, 2026

    Her office's release of Nov. 18, 2020. The city retained the Police Executive Research Forum for a "top to bottom" review of police policy and training. Archived copy; the city's site blocks this desk.

    official office record

    For: Did Keisha Lance Bottoms bring in experts to advise Atlanta police on use of force?