A Message from Chairman, Jonathan Rodbell – July 2025

Buckhead Coalition’s Partnership with City, Police Foundation, and other Leaders Show Concrete Results for Public Safety

The Buckhead Coalition’s role in public safety as partner and convenor of leaders in our community and across the city is showing concrete results. Helping to keep our residents, businesses, and visitors safe has always been a top priority of the Coalition.

Recently, our city took a giant step forward as many Buckhead Coalition members joined leaders across Atlanta and our region – including Governor Brian Kemp and Mayor Andre Dickens – in applauding the grand opening of the Public Safety Training Center, a milestone in our ongoing commitment to public safety. I want to congratulate the leadership of the Atlanta Police Foundation for their vision and dedication in making this center a reality.

The Atlanta Public Safety Training Center will deliver top-tier training for police, fire, and EMS professionals while also supporting the recruitment and retention of exceptional public safety personnel.

Recruits will benefit from cutting-edge facilities, including advanced burn buildings and realistic emergency simulations in a mock village, equipping them with the skills and resources needed to protect our community.

Additionally, the Coalition commends the Atlanta Police Foundation for its continued commitment to crime diversion programs for our youth, such as the @Promise Center where Coalition members toured recently.

Over the past five years, its efforts have significantly contributed to a youth recidivism rate of just 6.7% – a remarkable contrast to the national rate, which exceeds 70%.

These commitments to public safety across the city are paying off.  Violent crime in Buckhead and Atlanta has dropped steadily for the past 3 years.  And the people are recognizing this accomplishment.

In fact, a recent citywide poll showed that 57% of Atlanta residents say public safety has improved.

The Coalition also recently celebrated the Atlanta Fire and Rescue Foundation’s unwavering support of our city’s firefighters, exemplified through its annual event, Breakfast With Our Bravest. This gathering honors the dedication and sacrifice of Atlanta’s fire and rescue personnel, and we are grateful that Coalition members had the opportunity to attend and show their appreciation firsthand.

Over the past three years, thanks to the dedication of our community partners and first responders, we’ve made significant progress in enhancing public safety. And our work is far from over—we remain committed to building on this momentum to ensure everyone in Buckhead and across Atlanta feels safe in their neighborhoods, workplaces, and homes.