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DeKalb committee defers vote on proposed citizens advisory board for county police
Summary
After testimony from the Fraternal Order of Police, the police chief and several commissioners, the committee deferred a resolution to establish a citizens advisory board for the DeKalb County Police Department to Nov. 18 to allow law-department drafting and written responses from administration. Supporters framed the board as a transparency measure; police representatives emphasized training, scope limits and risk to officer morale.
The Employee Relations & Public Safety Committee heard extended comment and debate on a resolution sponsored by Commissioner Terry to establish a community advisory board for the DeKalb County Police Department and deferred the measure to allow the administration and law department to provide written recommendations.
Lieutenant Hillis, identifying himself as president of the DeKalb Fraternal Order of Police, told the committee the FOP reviewed the proposal and largely supported the idea of a sustained advisory body but urged clarity on membership, training requirements and the board's scope. Hillis said a meaningful board should include line-level patrol advisers and recommended a mandated curriculum so appointees have technical knowledge of policing before advising on procedures.
The county police chief described existing community-engagement programs, including a citizens police academy and an ambassador/volunteer program that the department uses to build community ties and said those efforts have been sustained countywide. The chief cautioned that some models for advisory boards have high failure rates and that boards without clear limits and required training could be seen as an added layer of oversight that would affect officer morale.
Commissioner Terry defended the resolution as a best practice, citing certification programs that recommend civilian panels to review police-community engagement and saying the resolution only directs the law department to draft structure, membership criteria and operational guidelines. Other commissioners urged adapting the resolution so the county could leverage the existing citizens police academy and ambassador program as sources of qualified appointees.
After discussion, the committee agreed to defer the resolution to November 18 so the law department can draft specific structure and membership criteria and the administration can provide written feedback on how the advisory board might align with existing programs.
