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Atlanta Police Hold Sick-Out to Protest Officer's Murder Charge

VOA News

   Atlanta police officers called out sick or refused to answer calls
   Thursday to protest murder charges against a white officer in last
   Friday's deadly shooting of an African American man in a fast-food
   restaurant's parking lot.

   It is unclear how many officers declined to report for work Wednesday
   night and Thursday, but Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms assured city
   residents that they have nothing to fear.

   "We do have enough officers to cover us through the night. Our streets
   won't be any less safe because of the number of officers who called
   out," she told CNN.

   The district attorney's office brought murder and other charges against
   Officer Garrett Rolfe on Wednesday. He had already been fired. Rolfe is
   accused of murder in the shooting death of Rayshard Brooks, a
   27-year-old African American man.

   A second officer, Devin Brosnan, has been charged with aggravated
   assault. Currently on administrative leave, he has offered to become a
   state's witness.

   Both officers turned themselves in Thursday. Jail records show Brosnan
   was released on a $30,000 signature bond, meaning he has to pay only if
   he fails to show up for court, according to The Associated Press. Rolfe
   was jailed without bail.

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