Glynn County Police Department’s first Black police chief talks about bringing change

GLYNN COUNTY, Ga. — Action News Jax is highlighting achievements in the African American community throughout Black History Month.

We sat down with Chief Jacques Battiste, the first black police chief for Glynn County, in the department’s 102-year history.

He was sworn in back in December 2021.

Even as a kid Battiste had a keen interest in law enforcement and doing the right thing.

‘I was always that kid out there stopping other kids from beating up on other kids or rushing in to help people I didn’t even know,” Battiste said.

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Battiste is a former FBI agent with over two decades of experience. He was selected after a search was conducted by the Georgia Association of Chiefs with help from the National Organization of Black Law Enforcement.

He took over an agency that was facing strong criticism for how it handled the Ahmaud Arbery murder case back in 2020.

“The first thing I did was try to get the officers to understand that they are the real talent behind law enforcement. They are the talent in what Glynn County needs and they have the ability to make effective change,” Battiste said.

Since becoming chief, Battiste has brought along new training to improve community and police relations.

“We’re learning what the public’s expectations are at a different level than what we should be doing and that’s what that whole training is about,” he said.

Now, he’s working with his officers to get the community to trust again so its reputation is not tarnished again.

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“No one should ever look at anyone of us in uniform and wonder if we’re doing the right thing. They should automatically know,” Battiste said.

While Battiste is honored to be the police chief of Glynn County, he told Action News Jax reporter Alicia Tarancon true leadership doesn’t wear a color.

“It’s not about race. It’s about doing the right thing, regardless of who you’re dealing with,” Battiste said.

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