Episode 53: The Future of Policing with Guest Chief Jason Armstrong

Episode 53: The Future of Policing with Guest Chief Jason Armstrong

For our final podcast of the year, we’re excited to welcome Apex Police Chief Jason Armstrong to the show to talk about his journey in policing, the community policing he does, advancements to the profession, and more! We believe he represents the future of law enforcement, where positive change can be made. We encourage the community to help identify leaders like him by voicing their appreciation and commending those officers for delivering the service they desire from their police department.

 

Chief Armstrong’s journey to the Apex Police Department took him through Ferguson, MO, where he dealt with the aftermath of the Michael Brown incident. He explains how this inspired his work with the community to improve relationships with the police, and how he’s carried this through his work today. He talks about his philosophy on community policing, how he gets support from the community and implements it with his officers, what’s worked and how he goes about it in Apex now.

 

We finish the show by discussing the changes he’s made in Apex - including  creating a non-sworn civilian internal affairs (the first of its kind!) and relaxing the policies on appearances so his officers can be more themselves. Chief Armstrong is also currently hiring for the Apex Police Department - you can find more details at apexnc.org/261/Police-Department

 

More about Chief Jason Armstrong:

Jason Armstrong was appointed the Chief of Police for the Town of Apex, North Carolina, on August 2, 2021. Prior to his appointment in Apex he served as Chief of Police for the Ferguson Police Department (Missouri) for two years. Chief Armstrong joined Ferguson PD after an accomplished career with the Forest Park Police Department (Georgia). He started his law enforcement career with Forest Park PD in 2001 and held nearly every position in the organization over his 18-year career, to include Interim Police Chief. Chief Armstrong is recognized as one of the nation’s top law enforcement leaders in the areas of community outreach & engagement and police reform. During his tenure with Ferguson PD, the department saw its most significant gains on their federal consent decree with the Department of Justice.

 

Chief Armstrong is a member of the National Organization of Black Law Enforcement Executives (NOBLE), the International Association of Chiefs of Police (IACP) and Fight Crime: Invest in Kids. Chief Armstrong’s professional accolades include the 40 Under 40 Award from both the IACP and North Carolina Central University (NCCU). He was also the recipient of the Distinguished Alumnus in Public Service Award from Columbus State University. In 2019, he was appointed to the IACP’s community policing committee. Chief Armstrong currently serves on the Board of Directors for the North Carolina Association of Chiefs of Police, the Executive Board for the North Carolina Police Executives Association and the Police Chief Advisory Board for the North Carolina League on Municipalities. Chief Armstrong holds a Master’s Degree in Public Safety Administration and has amassed over 3,300 professional development training hours during his 22-year career. When he is not in the public eye, Chief Armstrong enjoys spending time with his wife and two children. The family enjoys traveling, sports, boating, and exploring new adventures.