Atlanta Police Recruit Dies in Motorcycle Crash on Way to Academy

Atlanta police recruit Moses Russ was on his way to the academy when his motorcycle collided with a Nissan Kicks, leading officials to pause training at the academy and bring in grief counselors for recruits.
Source Officer.com News
Sept. 2, 2026
2 min read
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What to Know

  • Atlanta police recruit Moses Russ, 24, died Monday after his Kawasaki Ninja motorcycle collided with a Nissan Kicks SUV while he was traveling to the police academy.
  • Russ had previously served with the Atlanta City Detention Center and the U.S. Coast Guard, and recently worked alongside Atlanta police during FIFA World Cup operations as a member of Class 302.
  • Academy training was paused following the crash, grief counselors were brought in for recruits, and city and police leaders honored Russ' service and expressed support for his family, classmates and instructors.
imageofgod | Atlanta Police Department
Atlanta police recruit Moses Russ

Moses Russ, who previously served with the Atlanta City Detention Center and the U.S. Coast Guard, was remembered by city leaders after a fatal crash cut short his journey to become an Atlanta police officer.

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An Atlanta police recruit died Monday in a motorcycle crash on his way to the academy.

Moses Russ, 24, was involved in a collision with a Nissan Kicks just before 7:30 a.m. while he was on his Kawasaki Ninja motorcycle, according to a police news release. He was rushed to the hospital, where he later died. 

"Recruit Russ was on his way to the academy, beginning his journey to become an Atlanta Police Officer, when the fatal collision occurred," the police stated in a social media post.

Previously, Russ had served two years with the Atlanta City Detention Center, as well as with the U.S. Coast Guard. As part of the police department's Class 302, he was deployed in the city's downtown during the FIFA World Cup.

"During that time he caught the attention of our assistant chief who was overseeing all FIFA operations, Chief Darin Schierbaum said during a Monday news conference.

The academy has paused training while recruits mourn Russ, said Schierbaum. Grief counselors have also been brought in for the recruits, Mayor Andre Dickens said during the news conference.

"The pain of this loss is especially heavy for his classmates and instructors, some of whom came upon the scene and stopped to render aid to one of their own," he said in a statement. "My heart is with Moses’ family and loved ones, his Class 302 brothers and sisters, his instructors and the entire APD family. We will surround them with support in the difficult days ahead and honor Moses for the life he lived and the service he had already given to his country and Atlanta."

About the Author

Joe Vince
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Joe Vince

Joining Endeavor Business Media in 2018, Joe has worked on the company's city services publications. He began working at OFFICER.com as the assistant editor. Before starting at Endeavor, Joe had worked for a variety of print and online news outlets, including the Indianapolis Star, the South Bend Tribune, Reddit and Patch.com.
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