DEKALB COUNTY, Ga. — DeKalb County Police Chief Mirtha Ramos has been placed on administrative leave, CEO Lorraine Cochran-Johnson said on Thursday.
A PR firm representing Ramos said she would be “stepping down” in a news release on Thursday morning. They later clarified that she was stepping down from her responsibilities as police chief but has not resigned from the position.
Cochran-Johnson held a news conference on Thursday afternoon where Channel 2′s Tom Jones asked her to clear up the confusion.
“Chief Ramos is on administrative leave,” she said. “Well I’m standing here before you and I’ve not seen that she’s said [she’s stepping down].”
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Ramos was the department’s first female and longest-serving police chief in over 20 years.
Former DeKalb County CEO Michael Thurmond hired Ramos in 2019 after she spent 22 years in the Miami-Dade Police Department.
“It has been an honor to serve DeKalb County for the last five years. We have made amazing progress in securing competitive pay for officers, reducing the violent crime and homicide rates, and regaining the trust of our citizen,” said Ramos.
Neither Cochran-Johnson nor the PR firm offered a reason for Ramos’ current status with the department.
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The CEO called the news conference to announce new hiring incentives to attract and retain officers. “We’re missing almost a third of our police force.”
So, the county is boosting baseline pay up to $64,000. And for officers on board with a college degree or master’s degree.
“That is $75,000 or more, Cochran Johnson said.
She also revealed officers can get a $500 housing allowance if they live in the county. And get full medical coverage, among other incentives.
The CEO says the county needs officers to reduce crime.
And even though there’s uncertainty surrounding Chief Ramos, Cochran Johnson feels confident it won’t affect officer’s performance. “I have great confidence that they will continue to do their job that they will continue to show up.”
Cochran Johnson announced Assistant Chief Greg Padrick as the interim police chief.
We later received a second email from a PR firm on Chief Ramos’ behalf. This one stated Ramos has stepped down from her responsibilities as DeKalb Police Chief. But for the time being has not resigned from the county and is on paid administrative leave.
The announcement comes one day after Jonesboro Police Chief Todd Coyt and Assistant Police Chief Audrey Dunlap gave their resignations to the Jonesboro City Council, effective immediately.
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