Interview with the New RTC Director, Hayward Lampley
Published
Joining the RTC family this year is Hayward Lampley who will be steering affairs at the RTC. Mr. Lampley is a retired law enforcement agent from the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) with over thirty years’ worth of valuable experience. He served as DEA’s Chief of Mission, in Accra Ghana, where he worked with multiple countries in the West African region to combat drug related crimes. He fell in love with the continent and therefore did not resist the opportunity to come back and work to bring INL’s mission in West Africa to life. Let’s find out more about Mr. Lampley’s vision for the RTC!
How did a hands-on cop, transition to this directorship role, at the Regional training center?
“Well, to tell you the truth there is not much of a difference between the above roles because I am still dealing with criminal justice professionals, in a management capacity. I continue to utilize the core values that I built as special agent- integrity, passion and leadership. The bottom-line is I’m still dealing with the law enforcement community and I get to experience the fulfilment that comes with knowing that my effort is helping to make a difference.”
Hayward Lampley welcoming Ambassador Jackson to the RTC
What do you enjoy most at the RTC?
“In my work with the DEA, I met a lot of hardworking law enforcement professionals in Africa and it is worth mentioning that there are some fantastic people doing a formidable job out here, making the continent a better and safer place. What I appreciate most about this job is meeting people who are as passionate about criminal justice, as I am, and are working hard to ensure public safety. Since I joined the RTC, I can say that I have mentally visited several African nations, having met people from diverse backgrounds, who are very engaged during the training; people who are fighting against the odds to combat transnational crimes. That has been my most enjoyable experience at the RTC. Not to mention the amazing staff that we have working here!”
What is your vision for the RTC?
“The RTC plays a quintessential role in INL’s strategy for the West African region, which is increasingly becoming a target rich environment. For me, the largest challenge lies in empowering the West African law enforcement community with the adequate knowledge and skill base to fight crime. How can we translate tried and tested methods of combatting crime in the United States, in an African context? This will be possible through increased communication between law enforcement entities within each country and the region. In my experience, I’ve seen how communication plays a very important role in our ability to fight transnational organized crime. I would like to see law enforcement agencies work together to build tasks forces that defy stereotypes. And I see this becoming a reality, especially with the alumni network that we are trying to establish, here at the RTC.”
What are some of your goals for the RTC, in the coming months?
“Looking at current RTC statistics, the ratio of women to men is low. One thing I would like to see happen, is increased participation of female law enforcement agents in our training. I would like to see more women being nominated to trainings, because women play a strategic role in law enforcement community and add to the diversity of our training experience. Like I said earlier on, I would like to build a stronger alumni network and see participants come back for follow up training and alumni focused events. Also, I would appreciate law enforcement agents, prosecutors and judges on the same course. Their work is so linked, that sometimes we fail to recognize the fact that bringing this different entities to the same training would foster mutual understanding on the cases they work on.”
Finally, I can tell you are in love with Ghana. Is that why you came back?
"(Slight chuckle) I do love Ghana and while I was out of the country for a year and I missed it! Ghana has become a part of my life, I love the peaceful Ghanaian populace and I feel a sense of security in Ghana. My family feels comfortable in Ghana, my daughter loves it and adapted to the culture and peaceful lifestyle of Ghana. In my work with the DEA, I built a network of valuable connections within the criminal justice community and these are people I respect as counterparts and as friends. The high level of professionalism that Ghanaians showed me over the years stayed with me. Currently I know every corner of Accra; I do my personal shopping from Makola market! I am definitely a Ghanaian at heart!”
Well RTC Alum, we are privileged to introduce you to Lamp. Please, let’s give him a hearty welcome to the RTC family- write to him with questions, comments and welcome messages at info@westafricartc.org and he will be sure to respond!