ATLANTA — Atlanta officials and the Policing Alternatives and Diversion Initiative have reached a new, multi-year agreement after days of back-and-forth between the city and PAD leaders.
Originally, the Atlanta City Council had approved a two-year, $5 million contract with PAD in mid-November, but delays ensued.
A contract was officially signed on Friday, according to information the Atlanta Mayor’s Office and PAD shared with Channel 2 Action News.
PAD officials said in a statement that the contract will cover several years of diversion services in partnership with Atlanta’s 311 line, providing “compassionate, specialized response to vulnerable community members and reduce police interactions and unnecessary calls to 911.”
The statement from PAD on the new contract said the partnership “is positioned to grow over the course of the next six years,” adding that “the two-year contract with two renewal options was first proposed in a competitive bidding process held by the City of Atlanta in April 2024, which resulted in the selection of PAD.”
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PAD has provided services to Atlanta since 2021 through its 311 partnership.
While contract discussions continued last week, PAD temporarily discontinued service to the city.
Channel 2 Action News covered the situation, where Atlanta officials said services did not halt even while PAD discontinued working with the city while the contract was finalized.
Now, leaders from both the city and PAD have confirmed work has resumed.
“We are committed for the long-haul and we are just getting started,” said PAD Deputy Director Denise White. “Doing this work allows us to transform a system of punishment into one of restoration.”
Following the contract’s signing, a spokesperson for the Atlanta mayor’s office provided the following statement on Monday to Channel 2 Action News:
“After PAD made the unnecessary decision to withhold services, creating a manufactured crisis, the contract has been signed by both parties. Diversion services have continued uninterrupted and residents can continue to call 311 for individuals experiencing a mental health or substance abuse crisis.”
In previous Channel 2 Action News coverage of the contract issues, a spokesperson for the mayor’s office said the problems were a “manufactured controversy,” and representatives for PAD declined to comment on that accusation.
With the claim now repeated, Channel 2 Action News asked for their response, and they again declined to comment.
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