LaGrange police chief retires; search underway for next chief
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LaGrange Police Chief Lou Dekmar is retiring after nearly fifty years in law enforcement, twenty-eight years with the LaGrange Police Department.
At Chief Dekmar’s retirement celebration Thursday night, LaGrange Mayor Pro Tem Mark Mitchell presented Chief Dekmar with the Flame of Excellence award to honor his inspiring career from April 3, 1995 to February 3, 2023.
Chief Dekmar was hired by then LaGrange City Manager Tom Hall in 1995. His experience in law enforcement includes ten years as a Wyoming police officer and investigator, and 36 years serving in Georgia as a police officer, detective, and division commander before assuming the position of chief of police for the City of LaGrange. A graduate of the FBI National Academy and FBI Law Enforcement Executive Development Seminar, Chief Dekmar is a member of the National Organization of Black Law Enforcement Executives, a board member for the Georgia International Law Enforcement Exchange, past president and chair of the Commission on Accreditation for Law Enforcement Agencies (CALEA), past president of the Georgia Association of Chiefs of Police and past president of the International Association of Chiefs of Police. Additionally, he is a former Council Member of the Georgia Peace Officer Standards and Training Council and a past member of the Georgia Board of Public Safety. He has also served as a Federal Monitor for the US Department of Justice, Civil Rights Division. Chief Dekmar is an adjunct professor for several colleges and institutions.
Chief Dekmar is an international presenter for police leaders and elected officials on a range of topics involving leadership, ethics, law enforcement management, and liability issues and has provided over 300 training programs to police chiefs, elected officials, and other law enforcement personnel in over 20 states and several countries. He holds a BS in Administration of Justice from the University of Wyoming and an MS in Public Administration from Georgia College and State University. Chief Dekmar has received the CALEA Egon Bittner Award, Georgia Governor’s Award for Lifetime Achievement and Contribution to the Law Enforcement Profession, LaGrange College Servant-Leadership Award, Georgia Outstanding Police Chief of the Year, and the Police Valor Medal for Bravery.
Chief Dekmar helped to create the Community Outreach Division within LPD to help address social issues that if not addressed could lead to crime. To help keep those struggling with mental health or drugs, he partnered with the local courts to create the mental health and drug court system. Dekmar was appointed by Governor Brian Kemp to serve on the Georgia Mental Health Board.
Chief Dekmar led the effort for LaGrange Police and LaGrange Fire Department’s accreditation. LPD received its 8th CALEA Accreditation in 2021. LaGrange is one of only thirteen agencies to receive this award. To receive CALEA Accreditation, the agency must demonstrate a commitment to professional excellence in policy and practice. LPD recently received the GACP Meritorious Gold Award presented to agencies that have maintained State Certification for over 20 years. Only thirteen agencies have received this award. He has received international attention for his part in offering a public apology for the lynching of Austin Callaway in 1940. Since then, he has been instrumental in helping to heal past wounds through community programs including the Racial Trustbuilding Initiative.
Chief Dekmar is married to his wife Carmen and they have two children, Chris and Cathy.
The city continues its nationwide search for a Police Chief. LPD Captain Dale Strickland currently serves as Interim Police Chief.
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