History is being made everyday and Mirtha V. Ramos just became DeKalb Co., Georgia’s first woman police chief and was sworn in on October 7.
What We Know:
- Ramos, is a 22-year veteran of the Miami-Dade Police Department and brings loads of experience to her new position. She has served as captain and major in Miami-Dade County. Ramos was also the division chief for the north operations and special investigations divisions in Miami and is currently serving as a division chief. A statement by DeKalb County CEO Michael Thurmond says Ramos oversaw more than 1,000 employees in four police districts while in Florida.
- In her new role, Ramos will lead nearly 800 police officers and 110 civilian employees. According to a statement released by DeKalb County, she will also be in charge of managing the department’s $95.1 million budget.
- She will be replacing Public Safety Director Jack Lumpkin, who has acted as the chief since former chief James Conroy retired in April. “DeKalb County has the right person at the right time”, Lumpkin says.
- Ramos stated that “hard work does pay off, I am here due to my hard work and my ethics and I think whether you’re black, white, yellow or purple, hard work pays off.”
- Ramos, born to Puerto-Rican parents, is also bilingual and plans to bring compassion and community to the force. She wants to lead with trust and as someone the community can count on.
Mirtha V. Ramos will be the county’s first permanent female police chief when she begins the new position on November 4.
