Decatur’s police department announced Thursday the promotion of veteran Capt. Scott Richards to deputy police chief, second in command to Chief Mike Booker.
Richards, 45, is the department’s third most senior member, joining the force out of college in 1994.
He replaces Keith Lee, who retired last Friday after 27 years on the Decatur police force.
“One thing I think we’ve always done well is community policing,” Richards told The Atlanta Journal-Constitution. “That can mean a lot of things, but partly I think it’s about telling our story, about showing how we set ourselves apart in Decatur. I think it’s important residents here understand the high standards we have when it comes to hiring and giving promotions.”
Richards grew up in Stone Mountain where he attended Stone Mountain High School, then received his B.S. in criminal justice from Georgia State in 1994. He’s been a captain the past 11 years.
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