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Rene’ Webster is making her mark in Lowndes County, working as Lowndes County Sheriff Chris West’s acting patrol commander while working to better the department and serve the community.

The former Army aviation operations specialist and four-year Montgomery Police Department (MPD) veteran said she began a law enforcement career to be an advocate for those who cannot defend themselves.

“I don’t like bullying, and I don’t like people who take away other people’s voice,” Webster said. “I’m really passionate about standing up for those who are scared or feel like they can’t stand up for themselves. I love being part of the community. At MPD, I was out there shooting basketball with kids and really trying to reinstate the sense of what law enforcement is all about.”

Webster joined the Lowndes County Sheriff’s office in March 2024 after the MPD fired her in November. The young but seasoned officer, just 34, said she was wrongfully terminated for spurning sexual advances from former MPD Chief Darryl Albert. 

She came to the “4-5” when West extended the opportunity for a job when no one else would hire her. But she stayed after the truth of her termination began to surface because of the faith and support she received from West.

“I couldn’t get hired anywhere, me nor my husband, Marcus Webster,” Webster said. “Chris personally reached out to my lawyer and told him that he wanted both of us, and he stood by his word. He was the only one who hired me and my husband.

“I’m truly grateful for him. The situation impacted our family because we have kids, and we were both unemployed.”

After joining the Lowndes County force, Webster said she sees God’s hand in every part of her journey.

“This is where God wants me,” she said. “This is where I will stay.”

Two months after her hire, Webster was selected for a joint-agency special response team as the first female member and most recently was appointed as acting patrol commander.

West said he admires Webster’s drive and dedication to the community.

“We want to empower law enforcement women, like Rene’, Miranda Timmons and Vernessa Thicklin,” West said. “They are the ones who are hungry and step forward to take on those leadership roles.

“Rene’ has vision. She’s been a military service member. She’s played organized basketball. She’s very smart and is jam-packed with energy.”

Webster implemented the first-ever Deputy of the Month award in January and said she believes the department can encourage peak performance by rewarding excellence.

“I just want to be a leader to my deputies,” Webster said. “I truly believe in feeding into them and pouring into them. I believe everyone should grow and be diverse, learning things that help them become better.”

She attributes her successes to God and said she would not be where she is today with her faith in Him.

“I believe I wouldn’t be here without God, and that’s who I put first before anything,” she said. “I give praise to Chris, but I believe God put him in my life. I am anointed and highly favored.

“People think what they did to me at MPD was going to tarnish me or stop me from going anywhere or achieving higher than what they thought I could. But in Psalm 105:15 it says, ‘Touch not my anointed, and do my prophets no harm.’ I was put in that position at MPD to shake that generational curse. God brought me here to help people.”