Decatur police chief implements leadership classes for officers
When Mack was sworn in on June 2, he vowed to restructure the police department, and he said that starts with additional training. Mack brought in national communications specialist Darryl Rivers for the 4-day sessions.
Hands Across Decatur extends hours due to heat
Rivers had spent his entire adult life as part of the government, including 17 years as a police officer, sergeant and lieutenant.
For nearly two years, the Decatur Police Department has been under heavy scrutiny since the police shooting death of Stephen Perkins in September 2023.
The department drew more criticism in April with the death of John Scott Jr., who was arrested by police while experiencing an apparent mental health crisis.
'Leadership is not defined with what's on your collar. You could be a born leader, or you can be a leader,' Mack explained. 'Mr. Rivers is going to make a lot of leaders today with his message.'
Rivers drilled the police officers on the meaning of earning respect with your ears and then losing that respect with your mouth.
'From time to time, the biggest part of communication is actually listening, and we as human beings don't do that all that well, so we elect to speak before we listen,' Rivers explained. A city-commissioned independent review released in January found Decatur police officers needed more training both on the law and how they interact with the public. Mack said he wants all of his police officers in the department to be trained as leaders in changing the perception of the department.
'This class today is for the sergeants and below or the officers that are aspiring to be sergeants,' said Mack. 'Just to give them a feel of what it takes to be a competent and a professional leader.'
Mack added that he is focused on several issues detailed in the review.
Rivers told News 19 that his goal for the officers is to believe that they are leaders both in and outside of the department in order to change its public perception.
'Sometimes people feel that the law enforcement community really isn't in tune with the plight of society, so I feel as though one of the main things that law enforcement could do is literally sit back and listen sometimes in order to understand how to best solve problems, issues and situations,' Rivers said.
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