Protecting the community

Darin Schierbaum has dedicated his life to service. The first years of his career were spent working in emergency communications before he became a serving police officer in a small farming community. While he loved the experience, he wanted something more.

“I had pretty well done everything there that I likely could do, and I just wanted the vibrancy, the energy and the diversity of a large city,” Schierbaum, the Chief of the Atlanta Police Department, recalls.

In the city of Atlanta, he found all of that.

“It’s certainly a place that gets it right when it comes to community,” he adds. “It’s a great place to call home, the diverse religions, the diverse cultures. I love all 245 of our neighborhoods.”

Building a community

Working through the many different departments in the city, Schierbaum has had plenty of opportunities to serve this diverse community. He explains that, despite the obvious challenges in police work, those with a good attitude and work ethic can look forward to a rewarding career.

“We want to make sure those doors can open for anyone, regardless of who you are, who you love, where you were born or how you worship,” he explains.

Building trust with the community is at the heart of the police department, and it involves daily conversations and interactions, making sure the city’s residents know they can rely on the 1,500 officers in the department.

“It is important that when Atlantans look to their police department, they see themselves,” he says. “We have to be trusted by the community and we have to be very good at what we do, regardless of what we’re called upon to do.”

Prepared for anything

However, building community relationships is not the only focus for Schierbaum. He’s also deeply aware of the importance of training for what has not yet happened, anticipating scenarios involving hostages or terrorists.

Recently, a bus was hijacked with 17 hostages on board, and Schierbaum and his department jumped into action, deploying the special weapons and tactics (SWAT) team to defuse the situation.

“Our SWAT team had been preparing for the eventuality of one day when it would occur,” he says.

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“We believe that no connection is more important than the one that can save a life. AT&T supports the public safety community by bringing together solutions that help protect, serve and connect. Connectivity is especially important for our Georgia public safety members who put their lives on the line every day to protect our communities.” – Venessa Harrison, President, AT&T Southeast Coastal States

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“We have to keep investing within the organization so if we get something that we’ve not seen before, we have created the environment and the skill sets to craft a solution and a resolution to whatever crisis befalls our city.

“I remind everyone, from our newest recruits to our veterans of 20 years: ‘What you do makes a difference. Your mere presence in the community deters crime, instills hope.’”

Looking to the future

This reminder is now more important than ever, given that 2024 is an election year in the United States.

“As a police department, we remain apolitical in all of those settings to make sure that the First Amendment is applied to everyone regardless of your political belief,” Schierbaum affirms. “I believe every citizen, regardless of who they are, has the right to be protected by the law and they deserve the dignity of the law.”

The year 2026 also promises excitement and challenges of a different kind, when Atlanta will host eight matches for the FIFA World Cup.

“As we continue to craft plans to protect that event and ensure that it’s successful, we also have the responsibility to continue to deliver police services all across Atlanta,” Schierbaum says.

“If there is a critical incident, we still have to respond and not miss a beat, regardless of what’s happening on the field.”

Reliable communication plays a vital role in every operation, big or small. This makes the relationship between the Atlanta Police Department and communications partner AT&T essential – after all, no call is more important than the one that could save a life.

To that end, Schierbaum and his department are also always looking for ways to improve. From embracing new technologies and innovative community partnership programs to a state-of-the-art training center due to open in December, the goal is to remain at the cutting edge of good policing.

But Schierbaum realizes that for all the work he and his officers do, first and foremost, communities need to be supported in other ways. The city works with private sector groups, including AT&T, at three At Promise centers, aimed at giving teenagers and young adults access to education and job training.

“The three best crime fighters will always be education, economic opportunity and a stable home life,” Schierbaum says. “It’s better to interact and engage with a young person early and provide them with positive influences early in life, rather than having to arrest them at a later date.”