GAME CHANGERS MAGAZINE | 32
Q&A
want; it’s harder to define when you don’t (or where to find it). All I knew was that I wanted to do something with my life that would give me a sense of purpose. I wanted to do something that would add value to my life—a career that would bring out the best of me every day. The only occupation I knew that could offer that combination of fulfillment was law enforcement.
AN INTERVIEW WITH POLICE CHIEF LLOYD L. SLATER
Q—How do you feel about the negative light that has been placed on law enforcement around the country?
BY DEXTER NEWBY
Q—Can you tell us a little bit about yourself? A—Well, as you know, my name is Lloyd Slater, and I was born and raised in Brooklyn, New York. When I graduated from high school, I enlisted in the Army. I was fortunate to have earned an assignment in the 1/75 Infantry (Ranger) Battalion, which led me to my first duty station, Hinesville and Fort Stewart, Georgia. At the end of my second enlistment, when my then-wife and I began thinking of where we wanted to settle and raise our daughters, we both agreed that it would have to be somewhere other than New York City; somewhere that offered a warm climate, clean streets, and friendly people—a place where life moved at a little slower pace. So, when we left my last duty station in Germany, we returned to Hinesville, where in 1986, I joined the Hinesville Police Department. During my tenure, I have served as the Emergency Services Dive Unit Commander, Watch Commander, Uniform Patrol Division Commander, and the Assistant Chief of Police. I have earned a bachelor’s degree in Business Management and a master’s degree in Public Safety Administration from Columbus State University. I am also a graduate of the Georgia Law Enforcement Command College.
Q—How did you get into law enforcement? A—Since returning to Georgia, I have worked at several different jobs ranging from a lab technician at a chemical plant to being a civilian contractor on Fort Stewart. Although these were considered good jobs, they were routine. Each day was the same as the day before. Many people desire a nice, peaceful, drama-free life; however, having been in the military, I was used to being more challenged—I wanted more exciting and meaningful work. Self-fulfillment is hard to define when you know what you
What kept me in law enforcement were the thousands of lives that my actions have had positive impacts on. And, of course, no two days are ever the same. Being a police officer provides me with the opportunity to make the most out of my life—by making a difference in someone else’s.
A—Police officers are often more critical of a fellow officer’s poor behavior than a citizen would be. This is not a perfect world, and police officers are not perfect people; they are subject to making mistakes like everyone else. The difference is that those police officers are often required to make life-altering decisions under high-stress conditions in a fraction of a second. Unfortunately, some of these decisions have fatal consequences. There are a few bad officers, and those officers should be held accountable for their actions—but not the whole profession.
Q—What do you feel are the major issues that we face here in Hinesville, and what can we as citizens do to help? A—First, Hinesville is a great community and a safe place to live, and I plan on keeping it that way. This sentiment seems to be evident by the hundreds of military families who have separated or retired from the Army and who have chosen to make Hinesville their home. And like any city our size, we’re going to have our share of issues and growing pains. However, the Hinesville Police Department has an outstanding and diverse group of officers. These men and women are some of the best in the business, and they take pride in the work they do and the bearing they have on the community. There are several small things that citizens can do to have a significant impact, such as sharing a story on social media about a positive law enforcement experience or having “the talk” with your children about the police. The best advice that I can give anyone is the same advice that I gave to my children—if you are ever told to do something by the police—as long as it is not illegal, immoral, unethical, or unsafe—comply now, and if necessary, complain later. A deliberate refusal to comply with an officer’s lawful verbal command automatically escalates the situation; it prompts the officer to use other means of persuasion. Unfortunately, many young men and women who can become the change they want to see in their police departments are unwilling to become part of that change.
