The establishment of a new municipal police department is a complex organizational initiative requiring strategic planning, governance, stakeholder engagement, operational execution, and organizational leadership. This session examines the planning and implementation of Center Point's first police department through the experiences of Chief Zandral Washington, who was selected to lead the organization from its inception.
Drawing upon real-world decisions made throughout the department's development, the discussion will explore how vision was translated into an operational public safety organization while balancing community expectations, organizational priorities, resource constraints, and long-term sustainability. Participants will examine leadership approaches used to build organizational culture, establish partnerships, develop operational frameworks, and navigate the complexities associated with launching a new public-sector organization.
The session provides practical insights for project, program, and organizational leaders responsible for leading transformational initiatives where strategy, stakeholder alignment, governance, and execution must be developed simultaneously.
Learning Objectives
- Explain the strategic planning considerations involved in establishing a new public-sector organization.
- Examine how stakeholder engagement and community partnerships influence successful organizational implementation.
- Identify leadership approaches for building organizational culture, accountability, and trust during periods of transformation.
- Recognize how governance, resource allocation, and operational planning contribute to long-term organizational success.
- Apply lessons learned from launching a municipal police department to complex projects, programs, and organizational initiatives.
Speakers
Chief Zandral Washington
Center Point Police Chief
Zandral Washington was appointed in May 2026 and sworn in on June 4, 2026, as the City of Center Point, Alabama’s first Chief of Police. With nearly three decades of law enforcement experience, Chief Washington brings a distinguished record of leadership, public safety service, and community engagement to the role.
Before joining the City of Center Point, Chief Washington served for nine and a half years as deputy police chief of the University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB) Police Department. In that role, she helped oversee daily operations for UAB Hospital’s Police/Security and Criminal Investigations divisions, led the Hospital Security Operations Center, and managed security services for the hospital, campus, and Property and Records Unit.
Chief Washington began her law enforcement career with the City of Birmingham and has served with the UAB Police & Public Safety Department since 1997. She earned a bachelor’s degree in criminal justice from UAB, further reflecting her dedication to the field of public safety.
A trailblazer in law enforcement, Chief Washington made history as the first woman to serve as deputy chief of police at UAB. She is a graduate of the FBI National Academy’s 257th session and the Police Executive Research Forum’s 89th Senior Management Institute for Police. She has also served on UAB’s Behavioral Threat Assessment Core Team and Suicide Prevention Committee, underscoring her commitment to safety, prevention, and well-being.
Chief Washington is also active in civic and professional service. She serves on the board of One Roof, an organization focused on addressing homelessness through advocacy and education and is a member of the Junior League of Birmingham. She recently joined the board of Preschool Partners, which supports early childhood development for children ages two to four. Since 2008, she remains active has as an assessor for the Commission on Accreditation for Law Enforcement Agencies (CALEA) and has serves on the committee with the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools. She also serves as a Rape Aggression Defense (RAD) instructor, crime analyst, and instructor for aspiring CALEA Accreditation Managers at APCO.
As Chief of Police, Washington is focused on strengthening partnerships with community organizations and stakeholders. She believes collaboration is essential to supporting departmental growth, developing staff, and enhancing the sense of safety and trust throughout the Center Point community.
