public.jpeg

With nearly 30 years of success in the public safety sector, and nearly a decade as Chief of the City of Atlanta Department of Corrections, Patrick Labat has a proven track record of identifying growth opportunities in both public safety and civic environments. He has exceptional people management, budget management and creative problem-solving abilities and has been recognized for his ability to spearhead growth and productivity.

As Chief of the City of Atlanta Department of Corrections, he serves on the Mayor’s executive team as well as other executive policy-making bodies and is responsible for providing the visionary leadership for a $30+ million budget while achieving high levels of success and promoting effectiveness and efficiency across all departments within the City of Atlanta. His hands-on ability to build rapport, boost morale and work proactively with employees, internal departments, department heads and the general public has resulted in numerous successful partnerships.

Patrick served as the President of the Georgia Chapter of the National Organization of Black Law Enforcement Executives (NOBLE) in 2011, President of the Georgia Jail Association (GJA) in 2016 and received the GJA Jail Administrator of the Year award in 2015 and 2019.

He began his career in 1988 as a detention officer, working his way up the ladder over 30 years, and is scheduled to retire in December 2019. As a native Atlantan, and lifelong resident of Fulton County, he is a proud graduate of Fredrick Douglass High School and Clark Atlanta University, and he earned his Masters in Public Administration from Columbus State University. He served for five years as a coach with the Sandtown Youth Sports Association and volunteered with the North Atlanta High School PTSA and Basketball Booster Club. He and his wife, Jacki, share four adult children and reside in Southwest Atlanta.

His career highlights include:

  • Led City of Atlanta Department of Corrections to 3 consecutive American Correctional Association (ACA) accreditations with a perfect score of 100/100

  • Managed an annual budget of $30+ million and a 1,300 bed facility, housing an average of 1,100 detainees per day and over 35,000 detainees per year at peak occupancy, including federal, Fulton County, DeKalb County and City of Atlanta detainees

  • Created the ground-breaking and nationally recognized PAT3 Re-entry Program in partnership with the Georgia State Department of Corrections, the City of Atlanta Department of Watershed Management and the Urban League of Greater Atlanta to provide employment opportunities for non-violent inmates who are re-entering society. The program has been recognized nationally as a model for re-entry in Arizona, Boston, Miami, New York and Virginia. 

  • Spearheaded the Junior Corrections Leadership Academy to bridge the gap between law enforcement and the city’s youth

  • Secured Second Chance Grant to provide a higher level of aid for mental health detainees and those faced with opioid challenges

  • Created Clean & Close program which works across multiple city departments to include the Atlanta City Council, Watershed Management, Department of Public Works, Parks & Recreation and Atlanta Police Department saving the city more than $2 million

  • Implemented 5-year Strategic Management Plan to advance the objectives of the Department and foster trust and engagement throughout the community

  • Facilitated distribution of equipment, hardware and software systems for multiple city departments following the 2018 Cyber Attack

AFFILIATIONS, PROFESSIONAL ORGANIZATIONS & RECOGNITIONS

  • American Correctional Association, Commission on Accreditation in Corrections and Former Board Member

  • American Jail Association, Life Member

  • Atlanta Metrpol, Inc.

  • City of Atlanta Automated Fingerprint Identification System (AFIS) Implementation Committee

  • FBI-LEEDA (Law Enforcement Executive Development Association), Class of 2014

  • GILEE (Georgia International Law Enforcement Exchange)

  • Georgia Association of Chiefs of Police

  • Georgia Jail Association: 2017-18 Past President, 2015 and 2019 GJA Jail Administrator of the Year

  • Georgia Peace Officer Standards and Training Council (POST) Certified in Basic Law Enforcement and Jail Management

  • International Association of Chiefs of Police

  • Kappa Alpha Psi, Inc.

  • Leadership Atlanta Class of 2014

  • National Organization of Black Law Enforcement Executives (NOBLE), Past Georgia Chapter President, Past National Region III Vice President, Life Member