$250K raised for officer charged with murder of Rayshard Brooks

ATLANTA — Thousands of people are stepping up to provide support for the former officer charged with murder in the death of Rayshard Brooks.

More than $250,000 has been raised for former Atlanta police officer Garrett Rolfe’s legal fees, according to the Georgia Law Enforcement Organization.

The nonprofit organization says the “fundraiser is designed to help Officer Rolfe and his family to pay for legal services and general necessities.”

“We spoke to him to get all the details worked out as far as the fundraising goes and obviously to get his blessing on doing the fundraising on his behalf,” said Josh Watson, Georgia Law Enforcement chief operating officer.

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The organization told Channel 2 Action News that more than 2,000 people have donated to the fundraiser.

On Wednesday, Fulton County District Attorney Paul Howard announced 11 charges against Rolfe and his former partner officer Devin Brosnan.

The Georgia Law Enforcement Organization believes the charges against Rolfe are political.

“Officer Rolfe was involved in the justified shooting of Rayshard Brooks on June 12th, 2020, and he is being used as a political pawn by the district attorney and has been charged with murder,” the organization wrote on its website.

The Atlanta Police Foundation also announced Thursday that every APD officer will get a $500 bonus after $2 million in private money was raised by the foundation.

“We felt like it was important at this time because the morale is at the level... there is the rumor of other officers leaving and we just do not want to lose good police officers,” said Dave Wilkinson with the Atlanta Police Foundation.

“This is not about the mayor’s office against our police officers. It’s not about our communities against our police officers. It’s about how we are thoughtful as to how we work together as a whole,” Atlanta Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms said.

Rolfe turned himself in to the Fulton County Jail on Thursday where he remains held without bond.

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