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.”