Decatur’s police department is revising its strategic plan for the first time in nine years, with a series of focus groups run by consultants Frank and Alysin Foster.
“We’re basically asking three questions,” said Police Chief Mike Booker. “We’re asking what you like, what you don’t like, and what you’d like to see out of the department in the future.”
Booker said the strategic plan isn’t related to diversity issues raised over the past 18 months, particularly by former Decatur school-board member Don Denard. In March Denard came before city commissioners asking for “better training” of the city’s police department in “dealing with the subconscious level of racism.”
“Diversity isn’t the main thrust here,” Booker said. “Our staff is a very diverse group. If your staff doesn’t mirror your community, that’s where your problems start. So we’re very selective with who we hire.
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