In several countries like Finland, Australia, Denmark, and Germany, police officers receive much more training than their American counterparts. For example, Finland provides police cadets with 5,500 hours of training, while the minimum required in Georgia is only 408 hours.

Studies consistently show that well-trained law enforcement officers handle mental health emergencies and violent situations better, are less likely to show racial bias, and can build stronger community relationships, which are essential for effective policing.

On the other hand, poorly trained officers tend to use force and rely heavily on their firearms, leading to tragic outcomes and controversies. Unfortunately, Georgia's police officers are among the least trained in the United States.

The evidence suggests that investing in police training can heal the wounds caused by years of police misconduct. For instance, Newark, N.J., adopted yearly seminars for police officers, which led to zero police shootings in 2020 and a decrease in crime rates.

One effective training approach gaining popularity is the Integrating Communications, Assessment, and Tactics (ICAT) standard. It focuses on using communication tools to defuse volatile situations and has reduced use-of-force incidents by almost one-third while minimizing injuries to officers and civilians. Cities like Atlanta are adopting the ICAT method as part of their reform agenda.

However, the proposed Atlanta Public Safety Training Center has faced opposition, with some protestors making baseless claims about the center being linked to "white supremacy" and "militarization" tactics. These conspiratorial allegations have hindered meaningful discussion about the actual curriculum and purpose of the center.

The opposition to the center has escalated, leading to violent confrontations and protests from activists worldwide. Unfortunately, the movement has become less focused on substantive police reform and more about expressing abstract left-wing causes.

Despite the challenges and controversies, many Atlanta residents and community leaders remain supportive of the training center. A poll showed that 61% of residents favored moving forward with the project.

Some protestors are now attempting to propose a ballot measure to cancel the training center, but city officials continue to work on the facility's construction, which aims to improve policing in Atlanta.

While the opposition's actions and rhetoric have perplexed many in the community, leaders like Rev. Gerald Durley emphasize the importance of police training and believe that the training center would be beneficial in addressing ongoing policing issues.

The debate over the Atlanta Public Safety Training Center highlights the divergent views around policing, with some advocating for better training and others resorting to extreme measures to stop the project.

The future of the academy remains uncertain as the debate continues.