Hazel Crest’s Chief Mitchell R. Davis Installed as First Black President of IL Association of Chiefs of Police.

Chief Mitchell R. Davis, III, of the Hazel Crest Polic Department, was installed as the first black president of the Illinois Association of Chiefs of Police on April 30, 2021. Davis is the association’s 73rd president in its 80-year history.

Chicago Defender: How did it feel being sworn in as the first black president of the Illinois Association of Chiefs of Police?

Chief Mitchell R. Davis, III: I did not expect it to be a big deal because I am involved in so many organizations locally and nationally as far as law enforcement. When I was getting sworn in, some emotions came over me that I really was not expecting. Being the first black president of the Illinois Association of Chiefs of Police is an honor. With that honor comes with a lot of responsibilities and I do not take it lightly.

Chicago Defender: What inspired you in a career in law enforcement?

Chief Mitchell R. Davis, III I was never inspired to get into law enforcement. I believe God put me here in this profession. I went to an engineering school. I was a computer programmer for eight years prior to being a police officer. I lost my job due to downsizing. My son had just been born, and we just bought a new house. I was at a minority job fair at DePaul University in 1991, passing out resumes just trying to find the means to support my family. I gave my resume to the Park Forest Police Department. They sent me information on testing as a police officer. There were about 500 people that applied. The department had three positions that needed to be filled immediately. Out of the 500 people, I was number two, and the rest is history. God put me here, and that is why, I believe, it is my assignment from him to do what I am doing and to do it the right way, and that is why I take my job seriously.

Chicago Defender: Since being sworn in, what are your top priorities?

Chief Mitchell R. Davis, III: My top priorities are placing an enhanced focus on diversity and programs addressing crime through developing relationships with the community.

Chicago Defender: What are your thoughts about calls to reform or defund the police?

Chief Mitchell R. Davis, III: I am personally in favor of productive criminal justice reform. As a police officer and a black man, I have had personal and professional encounters. And because of those, there absolutely needs to be a cultural reform. Reform is not a bad thing. The definition of reform is change for the better.  So often, people in law enforcement think that because people want reform, they do not like the police, and that is not true. Everybody can get better. For me, reform is a good thing, and I believe that in law enforcement, we should be part of reform and not a victim of reform. Reform is going to happen so let be a part of it and try to get input and work together with those that seek reform.

As far as defunding, I believe when people say defund, I believe they mean reallocation of funds. What I tell people, that back in the 90s, when social, mental health, homelessness, and substance abuse services were defunded, all those responsibilities fell on law enforcement. So, we had to be trained in all these different areas, but we were not given the funds that were saved because of defunding these services. Taking money from our department will hurt our department. As a result, the unintended consequences will hurt our community and the services we are able to provide. From a realistic standpoint, I am all for productive reform.

Chicago Defender: What do you see the police department most need to improve?

Chief Mitchell R. Davis, III: We as police officers must be willing to own that there have been injustices that have happened through our profession through history. Going back to slave catchers, Jim Crow laws, the war on drugs, and get tough on crime. Those are things that we, as law enforcement, had been a part of that have harmed communities, specifically communities of color. There are people that say, “That happened a long time ago.” There are residual effects that are still entrenched in our profession. We must understand that there are people that feel that way because of those reasons and that we should work to get better. We, as a profession, must adjust the culture to make sure we are inclusive in how we treat all communities. Everybody deserves the same type of equitable treatment and services.

Chicago Defender: What needs to be done to improve relationships between the police and the black community.

Chief Mitchell R. Davis, III: To ask for input from the black community. They may share things with us that we never thought about. We must work together collaboratively and come up with ways on how we can service the black community. We must learn how to police the criminals and not the entire community. We cannot keep policing everybody in the community.

Tammy Gibson is a black history traveler and author. Find her on social media @SankofaTravelher.

 

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