Cop City is the informal name for the Atlanta Public Safety Training Center, an 85-acre campus for police and firefighter training in DeKalb County, Georgia. It includes facilities like classrooms, a burn building, a mock urban village (with simulated apartments, a bar, and school), and shooting ranges to enhance tactical and emergency response skills.

The project faces pushback over forest clearing in underserved areas, questions on police funding priorities, and protest escalations. Backers highlight its role in tackling crime trends, creating a divide between safety needs and community investments.

Total funding reaches $118 million, split between $67 million from the city and $51 million from private sources via the Atlanta Police Foundation. An additional $1.2 million yearly covers the 30-year lease.

Situated in the South River Forest of DeKalb County, near Lakewood Heights in southeast Atlanta—on former city land that's now a key green buffer for local neighborhoods.

Key allies include Mayor Andre Dickens, Governor Brian Kemp, and donors like Delta Air Lines. Local leaders and some residents back it for addressing officer shortages and 2021's homicide surge.

Groups like Stop Cop City Atlanta, Sierra Club activists, and BLM organizers rally against it, citing environmental racism and calls for funds toward housing or mental health in Black communities.

Construction kicked off in 2023, with full operations starting April 29, 2025—four years after initial city council approval.

Highlights include a simulated urban village, fire burn tower, driving tracks, and medical bays for integrated police-fire training, replacing outdated 1960s sites.

Once Muscogee Creek land (Weelaunee means "brown water place"), it became a prison farm in 1908 known for forced Black labor until 1995, then regrew as forest before redevelopment.

Clearing parts of 300 acres impacts biodiversity and flood risks in a zone where green access is limited (6.9 acres per 1,000 Black residents vs. 25.6 for white). Plans include eco-features like permeable paths, but preservation pledges remain debated.

Proponents argue advanced simulations cut training risks and speed up responses to urban challenges, amid post-pandemic crime patterns—though alternatives like community programs are also gaining traction.

In majority-Black areas, critics point to militarized policing echoes from 2020 events and rushed input processes, where 70% of 2021 comments opposed the plan.

From 2021 tree occupations to 2023 marches, efforts halted work temporarily; over 100 arrests occurred, mostly nonviolent, amplifying voices on free speech and land rights.

Manuel "Tortuguita" Paez Terán, a 26-year-old defender, died in a January 2023 raid—autopsy details showed raised hands, fueling scrutiny of police tactics and leading to federal reviews.

Yes, all 61 racketeering cases were tossed in September 2025 for overreach, marking a win for free assembly—arson claims against five also fell, with possible appeals pending.

Efforts include a rejected 116,000-signature referendum and dismissed RICO charges against 61 in September 2025, alongside ongoing federal suits over protester rights.

As lead developer, it secured $60 million+ from corporates like Home Depot for the training center, framing it as a long-term safety boost.

A March 2025 federal case claims targeted arrests of opponents; a November DOJ probe explores broader "antifa" ties, tying into national policing debates.

Up to 300 acres in the South River area saw changes, with the main 85-acre build plus roads—core forest buffers aim to stay intact.

Yes, it's operational since spring 2025, running sessions while minor tweaks continue.

Atlanta Police Foundation backers include Coca-Cola, Chick-fil-A, and $2 million+ from Delta, sparking divestment campaigns over green space priorities.