DeKalb County will welcome its first female police chief, Mirtha V. Ramos, to the force on November 4.

Ramos, who ascended the ranks of the Miami-Dade Police Department over the past 22 years, will replace former chief James Conroy, who retired in April.

Today, DeKalb County CEO Michael Thurmond appointed Mirtha V. Ramos as the 1st female chief of the DeKalb County PD. Effective Nov. 4, Ramos will lead nearly 800 sworn police officers & 110 civilian employees. Ramos is a 22-year veteran of the Miami-Dade PD. Welcome, chief! #DKPD
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— DeKalb County Police Department (@DeKalbCountyPD) October 3, 2019

In addition to serving as captain and major in Miami-Dade County, Ramos also was the division chief for the north operations and special investigations divisions in Miami. She also helped develop the Youth Outreach, which focused on community-oriented policing.

“Chief Ramos has the knowledge, skill and abilities to develop and sustain strong partnerships that reduce crime,” Public Safety Director Jack Lumpkim told AJC. “DeKalb County has the right person at the right time.”

Described as a “compassionate, no-nonsense, hands on leader,” Ramos will be sworn in on Oct. 7.

“Chief Ramos has embraced community policing as an effective tool to reduce crime and improve public safety,” Michael Thurmond, DeKalb CEO, said in a statement.

According to Thurmond, the county’s top priorities include “expanding aw enforcement and community-building initiatives designed to interrupt the cycle of gun violence and illegal gang activity” and improving efforts to bring in, properly train, and retain qualified officers.

“She is an innovative leader who brings a wealth of experience, training and professionalism to this important position. I am confident that our new police chief will dedicate herself to advancing DeKalb County’s public safety priorities.”

Ramos is in the company of several other Black female police officers who have been appointed this year with pivotal leadership roles across the country, including Norfolk Police Department’s Michele Naughton, the first Black female captain in the Virginia city’s 222-year-history.

In August, Jacksonville marked a moment in history by appointing former assistant chief Deloris Patterson O’Neal to the rank of chief, making her the first Black woman to hold that title.

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