The Villager Newspaper Online Your Community News – Cleveland's Westshore
The Cleveland Police Foundation (CPF) board has just confirmed the appointment of Richard (Rick) DeChant Jr. as its new executive director, according to founding chairman Grant Dinner. DeChant has been serving as Interim Executive Director for the past three months.
“We believe Rick DeChant will strengthen and grow the Cleveland Police Foundation by bringing to it 40 years of successful leadership growth and documented accomplishments,” said Dinner. “His experience and leadership as an Executive Director of Veteran Services and Programs, an Assistant Federal Security Director with the Department of Homeland Security and 21 years of military experience has prepared him well for this critical role in our community.”
Just over a decade old, the Cleveland Police Foundation is an independent alliance of business and civic leaders, law enforcement agency organizations and individuals committed to the ideal that an educated, well-trained, and modernly equipped law enforcement agency leads to a safer community. Led by a strong board of committed, experienced, community leaders, the Foundation’s mission is to strengthen the bond between the Cleveland Division of Police and the citizens its serves. It’s known today as Community Policing. To accomplish this goal, the CPF works proactively to support and invest in programs, community policing initiatives and engagement programs that foster stronger relationships between citizens and police officers, and police charities.
“DeChant’s work as a member of the CPF Board and most recently as its Interim Executive Director has shown his unwavering commitment to the mission of the CPF as well as an ability to engage and get done the vital work that is needed to move the CPF forward,” said Dinner. “This is especially critical in this time of unprecedented demand for social reform and the re-invention of police departments.”
DeChant is the founder, owner and CEO of an Northeast Ohio consulting firm focused on providing clients strategic focus and planning as it relates to opportunities for growth within public safety, veteran-related programs management, government, educational or private sector entities focused on military affairs and homeland security issues.
As executive director of Veteran Services and Programs, he was responsible for providing overall leadership, direction and coordination for all Veterans Services initiatives within Cuyahoga Community College. His primary responsibilities included building coherent and effective programs to address the varied needs of veteran students and potential students and developing and maintaining active partnerships with governmental and community organizations that assisted the college in meeting the needs of its veteran and military member students.
DeChant is a retired U.S. Coast Guard Commander and has been active in public relations with Public Relations Partners, Liggett-Stashower, Cleveland Electric Illuminating and WJW TV8. He has earned numerous awards and military decorations including the Ohio Veterans Hall of Fame, Department of Homeland Security Secretary’s award for Heroism, Coast Guard Commemoration Medals, International Global War on Terrorism Medal (Operation Iraqi Freedom) and Coast Guard Special Operations Ribbon (Exxon Valdez oil spill).
DeChant and his wife, Sharon, live in Fairview Park. He is an avid sailor, golfer and auto racing enthusiast.
For more information about the Cleveland Police Foundation, visit www.clevelandpolicefoundation.
