APS superintendent says no guns missing from district

ATLANTA — Atlanta's school superintendent says the district is confident no weapons recently purchased by the Atlanta Public Schools district are missing.%

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But Dr. Meria Carstarphen is less certain about weapons purchased as far back as 2005.

Channel 2 investigative reporter Richard Belcher has learned that APS is asking the Georgia Bureau of Investigation to assist in tracking down older gun buys.

Carstarphen told Belcher she is now satisfied that is not correct but she wants to account for every weapon the district has ever purchased. Whether that is possible is an open question.

“As of today, we have no evidence that any district property has indeed been stolen,” Carstarphen said a news conference Wednesday.

She was joined by the man who'll head the district's new police department starting July 1, Ronald Applin.

Carstarphen told reporters an initial investigation has verified the district can account for all 90 Glock semi-automatic pistols recently purchased for the new police department. She said the district provided inventory records for 18 other handguns acquired as far back as 2005.

Carstarphen said the district can also account for those 18, but she admits APS’s older record-keeping is imperfect.

“That question is the thing that, you know, is the burning question and why we want to just be absolutely certain that. But you may never be certain,” Carstarphen told Belcher.

“Basically what you're telling me is you may never be certain?” Belcher asked Carstarphen.

“Like I said, it's a fair question,” Carstarphen said.

The 18 guns would have been acquired under Marquenta Sands Hall, the system's executive director of security.

Carstarphen asked the superintendent what director Hall recalls.

“Has she said 18 is the amount I bought?” Belcher asked Carstarphen.

“Those are the 18 that she has produced and has shown us the evidence for, and has not said there have been any other purchases,” Carstarphen said.%

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That is disputed by Anthony Rawlings, who spent nine of his 30 years as a police officer assigned to the school district, and seven more years working for APS as a security analyst.

He recalls wondering why the security director bought so many handguns when the system did not yet have a police department

“Why? Why do you need them?” Rawlings said.

Belcher asked Rawlings how many weapons were purchased.

“Over 20,” Rawlings said.

Rawlings told Belcher Wednesday that he believes the actual number is at least 30 and perhaps more weapons purchased a decade ago.

Belcher spoke to a second former police investigator assigned to APS who said the same thing at least 30.

The GBI said Wednesday it has begun a preliminary review.

Cox Media Group