GACP State News and Announcements – Summer 2024

District 1

On March 13, 2024, Jay Wood was named as the Abbeville Police Chief. Chief Wood has 34 years of law enforcement experience. He replaced Jay Williams, who served as the chief for the past three years.

Stryde Jones was named as the Hahira Police Chief on April 24, 2024. Chief Jones brings 34 years of law enforcement experience to the job. He succeeds Chief Terry Davis, who had more than 42 years of law enforcement experience and served as the chief for 23 years.

On April 25, 2024, the GACP Executive Board awarded Hahira Police Chief Terry L. Davis with Life Membership.

Benjamin Reeves was appointed as the Sycamore Police Chief on March 18, 2024. He has two years of law enforcement experience.  He replaced William Ryder, who served as the chief for eight years.

District 3

Kelvin Douglas Mullins was named as the Acting Police Chief for the Columbus Airport Department of Public Safety. Chief Mullins has served the facility for the past 17 years.

Ervin Seaborn Swain was appointed as the Woodbury Police Chief on April 12, 2024.  Chief Swain has seven years of law enforcement experience.

District 4

Dennis L. Marshall was named as the Peach County Marshal on March 12, 2024. He has 24 years of law enforcement experience.

Darrin J. Simpson was named as the Marshallville Police Chief on March 12, 2024. He has 34 years of law enforcement experience. Chief Simpson replaced Patricia Barber, who resigned in August 2023 after serving as chief for four years.

Benjamin Scott was named as the Gordon State College Police Chief on March 18, 2024. Chief Scott has 29 years of law enforcement experience. Prior to joining Gordon State, he was an inspector for the Board of Regents Police for the past seven years. He replaced Michael Pennington, who was the interim chief for four months.

Dennis John “DJ” Flores was named the Fort Valley Police Chief on March 26, 2024. Chief Flores has served with the department for the past year and has 11 years of law enforcement experience. He replaces Anson Evans, who had served as the chief for the last two years.

Gary Mills was named as the Mercer University Police Chief on April 1, 2024. Chief Mills has 38 years of law enforcement experience and has been with the Mercer Police for the last eight years.  He succeeds Director Gary Collins, who retired after 51 years of law enforcement experience and the last 40 with the Mercer University Department of Public Safety.

On March 22, 2024, Chief Belinda Penamon and the Barnesville Police Department were awarded Re-Certification under the Georgia Law Enforcement Certification Program.

On April 23, 2024, Chief Michael Richardson and the Thomaston Police Department were awarded Initial Certification under the Georgia Law Enforcement Certification Program.

District 5

Jeremiah Thomas was named as the Ludowici Police Chief on March 5, 2024. He has eight years of law enforcement experience. He replaced Robert D. Parker who resigned after serving as chief for five years.

Daniel Adrian Floyd was named as the interim chief for the College of Coastal Georgia Department of Public Safety on June 1, 2023. He replaced Chief Bryan Sipe, who retired after 28 years of service with the department.

Nicholas Ray Strickland was named as the Interim Chief for the Patterson Police Department. Chief Strickland has 10 years of law enforcement experience.

District 6

Tracey Howard was named as the Hinesville Police Chief on March 29, 2024. Chief Howard has served with the department 34 years. He succeeds Chief Lloyd Slater, who retired on March 24, 2024, after 38 years of service.

Kelphie K. Lundy was named as the Guyton Police Chief on May 3, 2024.

District 7

Jerri E. Jennings-Joy was named as the Augusta Technical College Police Chief. She has worked with the agency for the past 12 years and has 26 years of law enforcement experience.

On March 26, 2024, Chief Gary M. Owens and the Columbia County School District Police Department were awarded Initial Certification under the Georgia Law Enforcement Certification Program.

District 8

Brian Ozment was named as the Summerville Police Chief on May 30, 2024. He replaces Chief Harold Tucker who had served with the department for 36 years and the last two years as the chief.

On March 12, 2024, Chief Joseph Duvall and the Dallas Police Department were awarded Re-Certification under the Georgia Law Enforcement Certification Program.

Kiki Evans was named as the Polk County Police Chief on June 5, 2024. Chief Evans has 33 years of law enforcement experience and has been with the Polk County Police Department for 25 years.  She succeeds Chief Kenneth Dodd, who retired after 30 years of service.

District 9

Kenneth Scott Deyton was named as the Union County Schools Police Chief on February 29, 2024. He has 26 years of law enforcement experience and has worked with the school system for nine years. He replaced Chad Deyton, who had served in the position for the past five years.

David Marcus was named as the Interim Police Chief for the Maysville Police Department on March 15, 2024. Chief Marcus has 18 years of law enforcement experienced and served with the department for the past three years. He replaces Joshua White, who had served as the Chief for the past three years.

Winterville Police Chief David Painter retired on April 1, 2024. Chief Painter had 34 years of law enforcement years of service, with the last two as chief.  William (Bill) Charles was appointed as the new chief. Chief Charles has more than 38 years of law enforcement experience.

Douglas M. Anderson as appointed as the Maysville Police Chief on April 22, 2024.  He has 41 years of law enforcement experience.  He succeeds Chief Josh White, who resigned in March.

District 10

On April 25, 2024, the GACP Executive Board awarded Chief Winston Franklin Allen with Life Membership. Chief Allen had 39 years of law enforcement service that included 12 years as the Police Chief for the cities of Grantville and Jonesboro.

Todd Coyt was named as the Jonesboro Police Chief on May 6, 2024. Chief Coyt served with the Atlanta Police Department for 32 years, where he rose to the rank of assistant chief.

On May 14, 2024, Governor Brian P. Kemp ordered the flag of the United States and the Great State of Georgia be flown at half-staff on all state buildings and grounds on Wednesday, May 15, 2024 “IN HONOR OF AND AS A MARK OF RESPECT FOR THE FALLEN OFFICESWHO SERVE, AND IN MEMOR OF THOSE OFFICERS WHO HAVE FALLEN”

Richard Randolph was named as the Chief Investigator for the Atlanta Judicial Circuit District Attorney’s Office on May 11, 2024. Chief Randolph has 25 years of law enforcement experience. He succeeds Capers Leon Green, who served in the position for the past 3 ½ years.

District 11

James S. Gianfala was named as the Ball Ground Police Chief on March March18, 2024. Chief Gianfala has 30 years of law enforcement experience and has served as the Chief Marshal for the Cherokee County Marshal’s Office for the past four years. He replaced Robert Bryon Reeves, who retired February 15, 2024, after 19 years with the department and the last 11 as the chief.

Marty Ferrell was named as the Canton Police Chief on March 27, 2024. Chief Ferrell previously retired from the Marietta Police Department after 32 years of service. Chief Ferrell succeeds Chief Stephen Merrifield, who retired after serving as the chief for three years and 39 years of service.

On April 25, 2024, the GACP Executive Board awarded Dunwoody Police Chief Billy Grogan with Life Membership effective June 1, 2024. Chief Grogan had more than 42 years of law enforcement service that included 15 as the Dunwoody Police Chief.

Anthony K. Stallings was named as the Chief of the Board of Regents Police Department.  Chief Stallings has progressive law enforcement experience.  He succeeds Michael S. Coverson, who served in the position for four years.

On March 26, 2024. Chief Jesse Evans and the Acworth Police Department were awarded Re-Certification under the Georgia Law Enforcement Certification Program.

On June 13, 2024. Chief Michael Dieppa and the Chamblee Police Department were awarded Initial Certification under the Georgia Law Enforcement Certification Program.

On June 1, 2024, Mary Forman was named as the Chattahoochee Technical College Police Chief. Chief Forman has 24 years of law enforcement experience and has served with Chattahoochee Tech eight years.  She succeeds Chief Patrick Hilley, who retired after a total of a 33-year career, 11 of which were with Chattahoochee Tech and five years as chief.

On June 12, 2024, Marietta Mayor and Council named Interim Marietta Police Chief David Beam as the Police Chief.  Chief Beam has served with the department for 38 years and has been deputy chief for five years.