DeKalb’s CEO highlights growth of police and fire departments

DeKalb County has graduated five police academies and three fire academies to help reach its ambitious hiring goals in both departments. — Interim De Kalb CEO Lee May in his Jan. 22 State of the County address

Public safety is one of the top issues voters cite when creating new cities.

So it’s no surprise that interim CEO Lee May would highlight growth in the police and fire departments in DeKalb County – where four new towns are being discussed on the neighborhood and legislative levels.

“Since taking on this position, we have graduated five police academies and three fire academies,” May said during his recent State of the Coun- ty address. “This is proving to make our neighborhoods safer places for our children and families to grow.”

The claim would put DeKalb on pace to reach an ambitious goal May laid out in Fall 2013: Hire 160 police officers and 100 firefighters every year for three years to halt the hemorrhage of public safety workers that hurt the morale of workers and taxpayers.

Those five police academies resulted in 151 hires, or 94 percent of the department’s annual goal. But as of Feb. 1, DeKalb had 859 sworn officers out of 1,060 authorized sworn positions. The fire department met its first year goal.

We rated May’s statement Mostly True.