LEXINGTON, KY – The Rotary Club of Lexington held its weekly meeting Thursday, March 9, at the Mane on Main, Chase Bank building on Main St. The program’s guest speaker  was Lawrence Weathes, Chief of Police, Lexington Police Department.

This meeting was also be on Zoom. For the Zoom link please email, trafton@rotarylexky.org.

If you would like to have lunch, please contact Jenny@rotarylexky.org to reserve your meal.

A recent Gallup poll reported that in America “concern about crime and violence … has edged up … and for the first since 2016, a majority (53%) say they personally worry a ‘great deal’ about

Chief Lawrence Weathers April 4, 2018.
Photo by Amy Wallot

crime” and that “another 27% worry a ‘fair amount,’ which places the issue near the top of the list of 14 national concerns.”  Against this backdrop, Rotarians are privileged to hear from our city’s “top cop”, Chief Lawrence Weathers.

 

Weathers was sworn in as Chief of Police of the Lexington Police Department on March 4, 2018. Weathers and his nine brothers and sisters grew up in Lexington’s Bluegrass Aspendale and Hollow Creek neighborhoods. He holds a Bachelor’s degree from the University of Kentucky and earned a Master’s in criminal justice from Eastern Kentucky University.

 

Weathers was hired by the Lexington Police Department in 1989. During the first six years of his career Weathers worked as a Patrol officer and was assigned to the D.A.R.E. program, teaching elementary and middle school students how to avoid and resist the temptations that lead to drug abuse. In 1994 he was transferred to the Bureau of Investigations and assigned as a narcotics detective.

Weathers was promoted to Sergeant in 1997 and has worked as a supervisor in every bureau within the Lexington Police Department. In 2008 his assignment shifted to the Chief’s office as the commanding supervisor of the Internal Affairs Section, where he was responsible for investigating, tracking, and managing complaints against department officers. A year later Weathers was promoted to the rank of Commander and assigned to the Bureau of Patrol, then the Training Section. With an appointment to Assistant Chief in 2014, Weathers led the Bureau of Special Operations until his retirement from Lexington Police in 2016.

In July 2016 Weathers was selected as the Director of Law Enforcement for Fayette County Public Schools. As the Director of Law Enforcement, he was responsible for the safety and security of more than 40,000 students, staff, and visitors, as well as dozens of school district properties.

When announcing his return to the police department, Mayor Gray noted Weathers’ commitment to community policing and how well respected he is throughout Lexington.

 

Weathers is a member of the National Organization of Black Law Enforcement Executives (NOBLE) and the International Association of Chiefs of Police. He served on the board of the Downtown Lexington Corporation and has served on committees responsible for addressing youth violence and homelessness in Lexington. Chief Weathers also volunteers his time as a mentor to elementary school students, and by educating parents and youth about the effects of illicit drugs and violence.

 

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