As Atlanta prepares to host matches during the 2026 FIFA World Cup, city officials are ramping up public safety efforts with a major new incentive: a $10,000 signing bonus for experienced police officers. The measure, launched by the Atlanta Police Foundation in coordination with the Atlanta Police Department (APD), aims to address longstanding staffing shortages and control rising overtime costs amid broader debates over public safety funding.

Atlanta

FIFA World Cup

Atlanta Police Foundation

Atlanta Police Department

As of May 2025, the APD employs 1,759 sworn officers—a number that represents the department’s highest staffing level since 2021, but still falls short of its 2,000-officer target. “We are moving in the right direction, but we are not there yet,” said APD Chief Darin Schierbaum during a recent briefing. The department hopes the financial incentive will make Atlanta more competitive in attracting experienced personnel from other jurisdictions, especially in light of the global attention the World Cup is expected to bring.

Darin Schierbaum

The staffing push comes in the wake of notable budget overruns. In Fiscal Year 2025, the city exceeded its public safety budget by approximately $50 million, much of which was attributed to overtime expenses. Schierbaum pointed to a series of high-intensity events—including the 2024 presidential election, protests, and a winter storm emergency—as key drivers of the additional costs. During the January snowstorm alone, police and fire services accrued over $2 million in extra staffing hours.

Presidential election

City officials say the signing bonus program is as much about fiscal strategy as public safety. By increasing staff capacity ahead of upcoming high-profile events, the department hopes to reduce the need for costly overtime assignments during peak demand periods. “We need more boots on the ground, not just for the World Cup, but to continue serving all our communities effectively,” noted Schierbaum.

At the same time, the expansion of police capacity has drawn renewed attention to Atlanta’s broader public safety strategy, particularly the development of a sprawling new police training facility often referred to by critics as “Cop City.” The proposed $90 million campus, located south of the city, has faced vocal opposition from activist groups, including Community Movement Builders. These organizations argue that increased investment in law enforcement infrastructure risks deepening community-police tensions and diverts resources from social services.

Cop City

“This kind of facility stands in direct opposition to what our communities actually need,” said a spokesperson for the coalition, which has organized protests and community meetings against the plan. Supporters of the facility, meanwhile, describe it as a necessary modernization effort that will enable better training in de-escalation, crisis response, and public safety.

The controversy in Atlanta echoes similar debates across the country. In Nassau County, New York, for example, a recently expanded training complex has garnered attention for its use of realistic urban settings and simulation tactics, though it bans live ammunition onsite. While the Nassau facility has been praised for emphasizing de-escalation, critics argue such spaces can still reinforce aggressive policing models if not carefully managed.

Nassau County, New York

For Atlanta, the dual focus on officer recruitment and training infrastructure comes at a critical moment. With just over a year before the global spotlight turns to the city for the World Cup, the stakes are high—not only for public safety logistics but for how the city defines the role and reach of its law enforcement in the years ahead.