DeKalb Police Recognized For 'Distinguished' Community Policing

DEKALB COUNTY, GA — U.S. Attorney General Merrick B. Garland and the U.S. Justice Department honored three DeKalb County police detectives last Friday, according to a news release.

Detectives Latosha Prather, Khary Ricketts and Dan-nae Webber received the Fifth Annual Attorney General’s Award for Distinguished Service in Community Policing for their work with the DeKalb County Police Athletic League Plus (PAL Plus) program.

“DeKalb County is honored to have its PAL Plus youth outreach and career development program recognized by the attorney general,” said DeKalb CEO Michael Thurmond in the release. “In partnership with Georgia Piedmont Technical College, our police department is helping local youth to be prepared for gainful employment with critical work skills and experience."

PAL Plus was recognized for innovations in community policing, particularly when the pandemic threatened to leave at-risk youth with no summer programs, according to the news release.

The three detectives implemented a virtual summer academy that connected participants via Zoom, Instagram, and Facebook, focusing on mentorship, education and athletics, the release stated. Community leaders, teachers and coaches, business leaders, entrepreneurs and nonprofits partnered with PAL Plus to make this innovative event happen, reaching more than 1,000 children and adults.

This is the police department’s first time winning the Attorney General’s Award for Distinguished Service, which recognizes 20 law enforcement officers and deputies from 14 jurisdictions across the country for exceptional efforts in innovations in community policing, criminal investigations, or field operations.

Learn more here.