SPEAKIN’ OUT NEWS
The Decatur City Council has voted to extend the contract of the consultant leading reforms within the Decatur Police Department, signaling the city’s continued commitment to strengthening accountability and rebuilding public trust following one of the most scrutinized incidents in the department’s history.
During its Monday evening meeting, the City Council unanimously approved a one-year, $110,000 contract with Stratford Highland LLC, a consulting firm owned by veteran law enforcement professional Al Anger. The contract passed on a 4-0 vote, allowing Anger to continue overseeing improvements within the department through August 2027.
Under the renewed agreement, Anger’s title changes from Consultant of Professional Standards to Manager of Professional Standards, reflecting an expanded leadership role within the department.
Stratford Highland LLC was originally hired in 2025 after an independent review identified significant opportunities to strengthen the department’s internal affairs process. The review followed the 2023 fatal police shooting of Steve Perkins, an incident that drew statewide attention and prompted calls for increased transparency, accountability, and policy reform within the Decatur Police Department.
Police Chief Torry Mack, who previously worked with Anger during their time in Birmingham, recruited him shortly after becoming Decatur’s police chief. Mack said Anger’s experience has played a key role in modernizing the department’s professional standards division.
According to Mack, Anger has helped rewrite and modernize more than two dozen departmental policies, strengthened internal affairs investigations, improved officer accountability procedures, and assisted in implementing recommendations from the independent review.
The renewed contract was first presented during a City Council work session before receiving final approval Monday night.
Supporters say continuing the partnership provides consistency as the department works to build stronger internal oversight and improve public confidence in law enforcement. Police leaders believe many of the reforms now underway require long-term commitment rather than short-term solutions.
The contract also reflects the city’s ongoing investment in professional standards, with officials emphasizing that effective internal investigations and updated policies are essential to maintaining public trust while supporting officers who serve the community.
As Decatur continues implementing reforms, city leaders say the goal remains clear: building a police department that is transparent, accountable, and equipped with policies that meet today’s law enforcement standards while strengthening relationships with the community it serves.