Montezuma Police chief tapped for district seat

From Staff Reports

MONTEZUMA — Montezuma Police Chief Eric R. Finch has been appointed as 4th District Representative by Georgia Association of Chief. District representatives play a key role in the success of the Georgia Association of Chiefs of Police by representing the Association in their respective districts. Collectively, the District Representatives constitute a Board of Directors to serve as an advisory body to the Executive Board. Additionally, the District Representatives will select a chairman who may attend Executive Board meetings with full voting rights on matters coming before the Executive Board.

In consideration of the importance of District Representatives, the list of duties and responsibilities should be considered as guidelines and not limiting the activities of District Representatives. The District Representative serves as a primary contact and liaison between Chiefs of Police in your district so that new appointees will be invited to join the Association to encourage new members to attend GACP meetings. Also, they notify the GACP staff of new chief appointments, terminations, deaths, illnesses and honors received by Chiefs in your district; they serve as a primary coordinator and liaison between the GACP and elected officials (local, state and federal) within local districts; they represent the President in Association matters and at GACP functions in local districts; they report on activities and other district matters at annual and select meeting (new appointments, illnesses, status of district, training conducted, etc.); they recommend to the Outstanding Chief Selection Committee Chiefs in the district that should be considered for the Outstanding Chief Award; to provide information to the Executive Director for the GACP Newsletter (new appointments, events, honors, local legislative happenings, etc.); they actively promote the GACP and legislation vital to it with state and local legislative officials; they conduct periodic training meetings, preferably once a month or at least once a quarter; and they serve as an advisory member of the GACP Board of Directors.

Finch, son of Clora T. Finch of Americus, is the husband of Tracy Lusane Finch, and the father of two sons, Eric Jr. and Sage. He is a member of the National Association of Chiefs of Police, Georgia Chiefs of Police and the National Organization for Black Law Enforcement Executives. Finch is an instructor for the Georgia Police Academy, and an adjunct professor at South Georgia Technical College.

Finch received his early childhood education in the in Sumter County Schools system. He is a graduate of Americus High School, and received a bachelor of science degree from Troy State University in Troy, Ala., and a master of public administration degree from Columbus State University.

Finch has received awards of excellence such as Who’s Who Among Executives and Professionals 2002-2003 edition and 100 Men of America. In 2004, he, along with his department, was awarded the “Dr. Curtis McClung Award of Excellence” for the State of Georgia and in 2005 he led the Montezuma Police Department to State Certification. He designed the assessment tests, entrance exams and a Field Training Program, thus saving the City of Montezuma thousands of dollars in professional services cost. Currently, the Montezuma Police Department serves as a model for smaller agencies within the State of Georgia, advising them that smaller agencies can achieve excellence through innovative measures. In 2006, Finch was nominated for Georgia Chief of the Year.

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