Decatur council shortens police chief application period amid protests and calls for transparency

The Decatur City Council on an expedited vote approved a resolution to begin a shortened, two-week application period for the permanent police chief position, saying the city needs a prompt search after recent leadership turmoil.

The council passed Resolution 25-037 authorizing human resources to post the chief position with a 14-day application window. Councilmember Pepper moved the resolution and Councilmember Pike seconded; the council approved the measure in a roll call vote (Ladner: aye; Jackson: aye; McMasters: aye; Pepper: aye; Pike: aye). The resolution directs human resources to return potential interview dates to the council during the posting period.

Councilmember Pepper, who introduced the resolution, framed the move as corrective after “17 months” of what he described as leadership failures he said had left the city and its police department behind. “It’s time to eradicate this good old voice system in the city of Decatur,” Pepper said during discussion, adding the council “should be given some sort of oversight” when selecting a permanent chief. He told the council he expected a substantial candidate pool during the shortened posting period.

Other councilmembers said they supported opening the process quickly while still seeking good candidates. “We need to get as many candidates as possible and hire the best candidate,” a councilmember said during debate, noting the city already has an interim chief in place and can continue under interim leadership if the permanent search yields no qualified hire.

Public comment at the meeting was lengthy and sharply critical of recent department leadership decisions. Multiple speakers urged broader transparency and community involvement in selecting the next chief; several asked for public town‑hall style engagement once a candidate pool is narrowed. Anthony Burgess, who identified himself as a returning citizen and youth mentor, said police actions from decades earlier had affected his life and argued those histories should factor into hiring decisions: “My life has been greatly affected,” Burgess said.

Other members of the public called for the city to hold a public town hall within the first 30 days of a new chief’s appointment and for full disclosure of relevant personnel records. Council discussion acknowledged that personnel confidentiality and legal advice shape what may be made public; the city manager and human resources director were asked to coordinate the search and to report back on interview scheduling.

The vote concluded an immediate, council-led decision to accelerate the application period for chief candidates. The resolution passed; human resources was instructed to post the vacancy for 14 days and provide interview dates to council members during that posting.

The council’s action comes amid continued public demonstrations and a third‑party review of prior police conduct that speakers and several councilmembers referenced during the meeting. Several residents used public comment to demand accountability, to call for improved department training and morale, and to ask the council to ensure the new selection process produces a chief who can rebuild public trust.

Next steps: Human resources will post the vacancy for a two-week period and return candidate‑interview dates to the council; the council will then set interview and selection steps. No permanent hire was made at the meeting.