(ATLANTA) December 9, 2009 – Mayor-elect Kasim Reed announced his intention today to name Deputy Chief George N. Turner as acting Police Chief for Atlanta Police Department.  Turner will assume this role on January 4, 2010.
 
“I am delighted to announce Deputy Chief George Turner as my acting Chief of Police,” said Mayor-elect Reed.  “I am taking this action quickly because public safety was a critical part of my campaign and there is no time to waste when ensuring the safety of Atlanta's residents.  With 28 years on the police force, Deputy Chief Turner has the home-grown experience, ability and respect of his fellow officers to lead the Atlanta Police Department as we begin our search for a permanent chief.  He will be instrumental in turning the tide of violence in Atlanta, improving officer morale and expanding the size of our police force.”
 
As acting Police Chief, Turner’s primary focus will be on keeping our citizens safe, taking a holistic approach to reducing crime, overhauling the city’s 911 emergency system and increasing the size of the police force.

“I would like to thank the Mayor-elect Reed for his confidence in me by making this appointment.  It is indeed an honor and a privilege to serve my hometown the City of Atlanta as its next Chief of Police.  As the Acting Police Chief for the City of Atlanta, my objectives will be to reduce crime, strengthen our community partnerships and to build and strengthen the morale of the men and women of the department,” said Deputy Chief Turner.

Deputy Chief George N. Turner became a member of the Atlanta Police Department on July 24, 1981.  Since that time he has worked his way through the ranks and is now assigned as the Support Services Division Chief.  As Division Chief his primary responsibilities includes managing the day-to-day operations of the administrative resources: Information Services, Computer Services, Training Academy, Human Resources, Corporate Services and the $164 million budget, and Communications/911.  Prior to this assignment as a Major, he commanded the Human Resources Section with the responsibility to oversee 2200 employees and the Background & Recruitment Unit which was successful in hiring record number 204 officers during the year of 2006 and 251 in 2007.  Prior to this assignment he commanded the Zone One precinct, which is the Northwest section of Atlanta, one of the more challenging and difficult precincts in the city.  During his two-year command of the Zone One Precinct he was responsible for 17% reduction in overall crime.
 
Deputy Chief Turner was educated in the Atlanta Public Schools system and attended Clark Atlanta University and holds a Bachelors of Art degree from Saint Leo University in Criminal Justice and a Masters in Public Administration from Columbus State University.  He completed the United States Secret Service Academy, Small Detail Training, Police Executive Research Forum (Senior Management Institute) and Georgia Association of Chiefs of Police, Command College.  

Deputy Chief Turner is very involved in his community and serves on the boards of the Atlanta Police Athletic League, the Georgia METROPOL and is a member of the following organizations: International Association of Chiefs of Police, the National Organization of Black Law Enforcement Executives, (NOBLE), Georgia Association of Chiefs of Police, Police Executive Research Forum and a 2003 selected member of the Clark Atlanta University Athletic Hall of Fame.