DECATUR, Ala. (WHNT) — Decatur Police Chief Torry Mack called his new Deputy Chief Eric Stisher a diamond in the rough when they first met back in 1989.
Stisher began his relationship with Mack when both served in the military in Germany. Six years later, they reconnected in the Birmingham police force.
Whenever Mack was promoted within the department, he suggested to the superiors that Stisher follow him throughout the ranks.
“From the time when I started getting assigned, he became a mentor, a friend, and a really great supervisor,” said Stisher.
Before accepting the job as chief, Mack told the Decatur city personnel board that the creation of a deputy chief position was to have command of the police department.
Stisher admitted that when Mack offered him the position that he did not know much about what was going on in Decatur, a city where tensions between police and citizens were on the rise.
“I just know that he and I were a good leadership team,” Stisher explained. “But then I started watching city council meetings and started looking at social media, and then realized that there is some tension between the community and the police department.”
Stisher said that did not sway him from taking the job.
“No, sir, and if it did, I would not be here,” said Stisher.
“We’re trying to build the trust back, and with that deputy chief position, the operation will continue while I’m out in the public trying to bridge the gap,” said Mack.
Stisher retired on May 30 after 27 years with the Birmingham police department. Stisher says he strongly believes that he and Mack will make a difference in Decatur.
“If he was here by himself, it would give him a difficult time to be out there in the community and running operations here at the police department. While he’s out with the community, I will be here working on the operations side of the house,” Stisher said.
Stisher told News 19 that on his first day on the job, he will implement new training measures for the police force and re-establish trust within the department.
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