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Metro Atlanta

Fulton hires Yates as permanent police chief

The Fulton County Police Department's new chief is Wade Yates. (Photo from Fulton County's YouTube)
The Fulton County Police Department's new chief is Wade Yates. (Photo from Fulton County's YouTube)
By Ben Brasch
March 23, 2021

Wade Yates has been hired as chief of the Fulton County Police Department.

The Fulton County Commission unanimously voted Wednesday, following a closed-door executive session, to hire Yates full-time.

A long-time Fulton Police employee, Yates became interim chief after Darryl Halbert resigned Oct. 27, 2020. Halbert was hired as chief in May 2018 — taking over from Gary Stiles, who started with the department in 1985.

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The county police department is a relatively small force charged with protecting the 7.5-mile stretch of unincorporated land. Officers recently began taking a more active role in policing county buildings.

Yates last appeared before commissioners about a month ago encouraging them to change the ordinance about arresting attendees of street racing exhibitions — popular on Fulton Industrial Boulevard, with its long and straight stretches of road.

Yates’ annual salary is $144,000, according to the county.

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Credit: WSBTV Videos

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About the Author

Ben Brasch is the reporter tasked with keeping Fulton County government accountable. The Florida native moved to Atlanta for a job with The AJC. If there's something important to you going on in Fulton, he wants to know about it. Help him better metro Atlanta by dropping a line, anonymously or otherwise.

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