Sandy Springs hires new police chief

Sandy Springs has selected Terry Sult, police chief in Gastonia, N.C., as its next police chief.

He will take over the 130-officer department Oct. 27.

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City of Sandy Springs

Terry Sult

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Appointed by City Manager John McDonough, Sult is a career law enforcement officer who emerged as the top candidate among 62 applicants. He will earn $143,500.

Sult holds a bachelor’s degree in criminal justice from Gardner-Webb University in Boiling Springs, N.C., and a master’s in business administration from Pfeiffer University, in Charlotte, according to his resume.

Sult has served as chief of the Gastonia Police Department since August 2004. The department has 170 sworn officers and 37 civilian positions. He oversees a $15.5 million budget.

Before his appointment as chief in Gastonia, Sult worked for the Charlotte-Mecklenburg police department, rising through the ranks from officer to captain over 22 years.

He replaces Gene Wilson, Sandy Springs’ first police chief, who resigned in July after an independent investigation into the city department found, among other things, that officers were leaving their assigned shifts to take on part-time, private jobs in traffic enforcement.

David Bertrand, the acting chief of police, will continue in that capacity until Sult arrives later this month.