A familiar face now leads the Snellville Police Department.
Greg Perry became police chief of the Gwinnett city on Monday evening. He put on his new badge after taking an oath, met with applause from his family, friends and colleagues.
“I’ve been lucky enough to come up through the ranks and go from patrol officer to sergeant, lieutenant and all the way up to the chief,” Perry said. “It feels rewarding but it’s also humbling. I look forward to the challenge.”
Perry, a graduate of Brookwood High School and Reinhardt University, started his career in law enforcement with the Stone Mountain Park Department of Public Safety. He joined the Snellville Police Department in 2002 and became assistant police chief in 2016.
With his new title, Perry said he wants to improve community outreach between officers and residents. He wants the department to host more programs like the Citizens’ Police Academy, Public Safety Night and Shop with a Cop.
The new chief also wants to increase training for his officers and do what he can to retain them. Unlike other police forces, Snellville’s department is currently fully staffed with 47 sworn officers, he said.
“We’ve always tried to have a department that took care of their officers in a way that they felt empowered to do their job and felt they were supported,” Perry said. “Because we were able to do that, I think we’ve been able to retain a lot of good officers.”
Perry will serve as the successor to Roy Whitehead, who served as police chief for 17 years. David Matson, who has worked with the department since 2003, will take over as assistant police chief.
Perry has received several awards and recognitions from Gwinnett County and national organizations. Perry, 46, moved to Gwinnett County with his parents in 1980. He still resides in the area with his wife, Katie, and daughter, Rebecca.
“... We’ve already seen what Greg’s going to do, and it’s going to be an outstanding job,” Mayor Pro Tem Dave Emanuel said. “I think it’s something Roy’s going to look back on and be proud of.”
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