Dave Mather, executive director of NLECTC Small, Rural, Tribal, and Border Regional Center (SRTB-RC)
The Center for Rural Development has named retired Cheney, Wash. police lieutenant Dave Mather as executive director of National Law Enforcement and Corrections Technology Center (NLECTC) Small, Rural, Tribal and Border Regional Center (SRTB-RC).
“Dave brings to the program an understanding of the challenges small law enforcement agencies face in trying to obtain and manage equipment and staff as budgets continue to shrink,” Lonnie Lawson, president and CEO of The Center, said. “He will be a tremendous asset in helping us continue to meet the needs of small, rural, tribal, and border agencies across the nation.”
One of the Public Safety programs operated by The Center, SRTB-RC is an outreach center in the NLECTC system with the National Institute of Justice, a program of the U.S. Department of Justice. SRTB-RC provides responsive solutions, practical benefits, outreach support, and technical assistance to nearly 17,000 small, rural, tribal, and border law enforcement agencies across the nation through innovative, collaborative cooperation.
Mather retired from the Cheney Police Department after 24 years of service. He most recently served as operations lieutenant for the small department, located in a rural community about 17 miles southwest of Spokane, Wash.
“I am excited about the opportunity to support small and rural law enforcement agencies as part of The Center’s team,” Mather said. “More than 90 percent of law enforcement agencies in the United States employ fewer than 50 sworn officers and are located in rural areas. One of my goals is to unify their voices so that policy makers hear their needs and those needs get addressed.”
Mather holds a bachelor of science in administration of criminal justice, a master’s degree in organizational leadership, and is completing his doctorate in education with a focus on educational technology.
Mather has also worked as an academy instructor and adjunct professor for several universities and community colleges, teaching courses in ethics, domestic violence investigations, laws of arrest, search and seizure, crime scene investigation, and leadership for police organizations. He had a private business offering consulting and instructional services to law enforcement agencies in the Pacific Northwest before relocating to Kentucky.
Mather is a former member of the Aviation Technical Working Group and the Safe Schools Technical Working Group. He was recently certified by the Washington Association of Chiefs of Police (WASPC) to assist departments in achieving WASPC accreditation, and participate in training and evaluation of departments in Washington state.
For more information about SRTB-RC and its programs, contact Mather at The Center for Rural Development at 606-677-6000, via email at dmather@srtbrc.org, or visit the organization online at www.srtbrc.org.
