Nationwide — DeKalb County Police Chief Mirtha Ramos, an African American lady who made historical past because the county’s first feminine police chief, says that she was positioned on administrative depart and given an ultimatum to both resign or face termination. She now seeks to make clear the circumstances of her departure.
Ramos, who has led the division in Georgia’s fourth most populated county since 2019, mentioned she was given 21 days to make the choice. “If I don’t resign, they’ll terminate me,” Ramos instructed WSB-TV. “I need individuals to know that I didn’t simply step down voluntarily. I might not have simply left with out saying goodbye to our neighborhood and our officers.”
Though Ramos was positioned on administrative depart, she insisted she did nothing mistaken, although being positioned on depart made it appear in any other case. She acknowledged that if she made any errors, they have been unintentional.
Beneath her management, DeKalb County noticed a major drop in crime. In 2023, violent and property crimes fell by 13%, although rapes and homicides barely elevated. Up to now in 2024, homicides have dropped by 77%, a statistic Ramos considers a serious achievement.
She additionally addressed the county’s police staffing points. With solely 527 officers, the division is sort of 300 officers wanting its budgeted numbers. Nevertheless, she famous that the decline in officers began earlier than her arrival in 2014 and continued every year, aside from 2019 and 2020.
In the meantime, DeKalb County CEO Lorraine Cochran-Johnson declined to touch upon Ramos’ management. Then again, Ramos expressed assist for the latest pay and advantages will increase for officers, calling them lengthy overdue and needed for retention.
Ramos mentioned her largest accomplishment was strengthening neighborhood engagement, which a nationwide report acknowledged. She additionally credited her suggestion of triple extra time to then-CEO Michael Thurmond for conserving sufficient officers on obligation regardless of staffing shortages.
Though she is now not chief, Ramos stays happy with her work and optimistic about what comes subsequent.
“I’ve religion that I can be directed to the place I must go. I’ve religion that I’ve finished all the pieces that I may for this division,” Ramos mentioned. “I lived and breathed for this division for 5 years.”
