Colonel Roessler created the Chief’s Council on Diversity Recruitment upon taking office on July 30, 2013. Colonel Roessler recognized the diversity gaps between the Department and the community when he stated, "The Police Department's diversity should mirror that of the community we serve and I am committed to achieving this goal. Fairfax County possesses a wealth of cultural diversity in addition to having excellent schools and other government services, all of which contribute to making Fairfax County a highly desirable place to live, work and play."
The Council is comprised of several dozen diverse community leaders in Fairfax County who bring new networking opportunities to the Police Department in addition to providing the Department with valuable insights regarding the many cultures that make up our diverse communities. Through sustained engagement with these communities, the Department anticipates new and strengthened partnerships will help to increase diverse community representation in the sworn, civilian, and volunteer workforce.
Council members have received specialized training related to the following critical areas so they can more effectively guide the Police Department toward diversity goals:
- The history of the Department
- Operational & organizational structure of the Department
- Recruitment and hiring practices
- National and international best practices of law enforcement diversity recruitment by the International Association of Chiefs of Police
As Colonel Roessler stated to the Council during the initial training, "This is your Police Department, it should be representative of your community, and I ask all of you to hold me, your Chief of Police, and all of us in the Department, accountable toward achieving the goal of having a Police Department which mirrors the community it serves." This statement is the key empowerment for the Council. The following links will lead you to key documents to ensure our strategies are effective and the Council has a guiding role in goal achievement: