Atlanta Offers $10K Bonus to Recruit Police Ahead of 2026 World Cup

Atlanta is offering a $10,000 signing bonus to experienced, certified police officers willing to join the Atlanta Police Department through lateral transfer, aiming to boost the force ahead of the 2026 FIFA World Cup and other major events. The department currently has 1,759 sworn officers, which is the highest since 2021 but still falls short of the 2,000-plus officers the city targets for adequate staffing and public safety coverage. The Atlanta Police Foundation's "Build the Force" initiative not only provides the signing bonus but also includes housing assistance, mental wellness programs, training, scholarships, life insurance, and childcare incentives to support recruitment and retention. Atlanta officials are concerned about managing daily public safety needs and special event security without relying heavily on costly overtime, which contributed to about $50 million in overspending in the Fiscal Year 2025 budget. Chief Darin Schierbaum highlighted the activation of the special events division to plan for World Cup security while maintaining uninterrupted police service citywide. The city also launched a vendor directory to help local small businesses benefit economically from the World Cup and other future events.