Abrupt leadership changes at DeKalb County Police Department, Chief M. Ramos on leave as interim takes helm

UPDATE: Mirtha Ramos is speaking out about the confusion over her sudden placement on “administrative leave.”  She says that she was forced out of the job that she has held for the last five years as DeKalb County Police chief. 

In roughly a five-minute conversation, Ramos said that she was given an ultimatum by newly-elected DeKalb County CEO Lorraine Cochran-Johnson on Wednesday (Feb. 19) to resign in 21 days or be fired. Ramos spoke with multiple news agencies on Friday, sharing that she was surprised that she was forced to step down, given the progress that she said she has made during her tenure, including reduced crime rates. Ramos, who was hired in 2019 by former CEO Michael Thurmond, after serving at the Miami-Dade, FL Police Department for 22 years. 

CEO Cochran-Johnson has stated that she could not discuss Ramos’ leave, saying that it was a personnel matter. 

Cochran-Johnson had promised during her campaign, however, that every county department would undergo an evaluation and audit upon taking office, and changes would be made accordingly and swiftly. One of her top priorities, she said, was public safety. Her campaign platform also focused on efficient government, economic development and “government reimagined” through visionary leadership that moves beyond the status quo. Although not publicized, other staff changes have been made, according to some who have been relieved of their duties under CEO Johnson.   

DEKALB COUNTY, GA—DeKalb County Police Chief Mirtha Ramos is on paid administrative leave and Assistant Chief Greg Padrick has been appointed interim chief, DeKalb County’s newly-elected CEO Lorraine Cochran-Johnson confirmed on Thursday, Feb. 20. 

The changes in leadership in the Police Department unfolded during a press conference that Cochran-Johnson had scheduled at the South Precinct. Cochran-Johnson had called the press conference to discuss details about bolstering the Police Department’s recruitment and retention efforts, positioning DeKalb to become the highest-paid police department in the metro Atlanta region. However, news of Ramos’ sudden administrative leave dominated the meeting as reporters pressed Cochran-Johnson for details concerning Ramos, DeKalb’s first black female chief.  

Cochran-Johnson said she could not provide details on Ramos’ administrative leave because it is a personnel matter. Still, reporters asked if there was a clash, and if a search would be conducted for a new chief to no avail.  

“…Chief Ramos is on administrative leave. I cannot speak to, nor can I answer for any press release that was sent out by a second party. And as it relates to matters of personnel, we do not comment on matters of personnel. She is currently on administrative leave,” Cochran-Johnson stated. 

A PR firm representing Ramos had announced in a news release on Thursday around noon—just ahead of Cochran’s 1:30 p.m. press conference—that Ramos was stepping down but later clarified that Ramos was not resigning. Former DeKalb CEO Michael Thurmond hired Ramos in 2019 after she had served in the Miami-Dade Police Department for 22 years. She became DeKalb’s first female and longest-serving police chief in over 20 years, the press release stated. 

Padrick(pronounced Pay-drick) said that Thursday was his first day as interim police chief. He said he has been with the DeKalb Police Department for more than 27 years, serving as assistant chief for the past six years. He said that he plans to carry on the department’s strategy that is in place while he is serving as interim chief.

“The DeKalb County Police Department hasn’t changed just because I’m standing here before you today as the interim police chief. We’ve done a good job over a number of years,” Padrick told the media.  “We do a lot of different work throughout the community . We incorporate community policing not only being involved with communities but we really dive into the statistics—our hotspot policing, our public policing, so we keep a very intensive strategy moving forward, and that’s not going to change.  

Currently, the DeKalb County Police Department has 515 sworn officers. There are 835 funded positions, amounting to a deficit of 320 unfilled positions that will be targeted for recruitment, Cochran-Johnson said. The department plans to fund the recruitment and renting efforts with money already budgeted for paying triple time to officers.   

Videos by Glenn L. Morgan/ocgnews.com

Here’s the link to the portion of the press conference where Cochran-Johnson fielded questions about Ramos’ administrative leave:

Here’s the link to the beginning of the press conference about the Police Department’s recruitment and retention efforts: