Atlanta is looking to lure experienced police officers to its force by offering a five-figure signing bonus for those willing to join the department ahead of the highly-anticipated 2026 FIFA World Cup games.
The Atlanta Police Foundation announced last week it will offer $10,000 to already-trained officers as a way to skip onboarding and bolster the force ahead of next summer’s events.
As of May, the department’s number of sworn officers was 1,759 — the highest number of filled positions since 2021, Chief Darin Schierbaum told City Council members during a quarterly briefing.
Atlanta police preparing for major safety challenges in 2026 FIFA World Cup
But the number is still far from the 2,000-plus sworn officers the city is aiming for…