Politics
Politics

Former Cobb fire chief appointed public safety director

Cobb Public Safety Directly (Courtesy of Cobb County)
Cobb Public Safety Directly (Courtesy of Cobb County)
By Meris Lutz
May 14, 2020

Randy Crider, Cobb’s former fire chief who has served as interim public safety agency director since August 2019, was permanently appointed to the director position in a unanimous vote by the Board of Commissioners this week.

Crider has 38 years of experience in fire service, 28 of which were in Cobb County.

Commissioner JoAnn Birrell praised Crider’s hiring.

“He has really stepped up and in this pandemic, he has shown that he has the leadership and the skills to carry us forward,” she said.

Crider’s salary is $172,297.

About the Author

Meris Lutz is a contributing writer covering climate, the environment and the economy. She is particularly interested in stories that explore the intersections between climate change and labor, markets, health, biodiversity, government transparency and public access to natural resources.

More Stories

Keep Reading

With the closure of the labor and delivery unit in St. Mary’s Sacred Heart Hospital in Lavonia, expectant mothers will instead be directed to deliver at St. Mary’s Hospital in Athens, about 45 miles away. (Photo Illustration / Getty Images)

Credit: Getty Images

Medicaid cuts ahead prompt Lavonia hospital to shutter childbirth unit

St. Mary’s Sacred Heart Hospital was already struggling. Funding cuts from Trump’s One Big Beautiful Bill Act tipped the scales.

LISTEN

Two major announcements shake up the race for governor in Georgia

The Politically Georgia team discuss two seismic shakeups to the governor's race: Geoff Duncan and Brad Raffensperger.

OPINION

US House Republicans stop time — again — to avoid votes on Trump’s tariffs

Under federal law, once a president declares an emergency and institutes tariffs, Congress can quickly force repeal votes, with action required in 15 days.

The Latest

Republican Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger (seen here at a Georgia Chamber Congressional Luncheon in August), announced he'd be running for governor, Wednesday Sept. 17, 2025. (Arvin Temkar/AJC)

Credit: arvin.temkar@ajc.com

LISTEN

Two major announcements shake up the race for governor in Georgia

OPINION

US House Republicans stop time — again — to avoid votes on Trump’s tariffs

Medicaid cuts ahead prompt Lavonia hospital to shutter childbirth unit

Featured

Julian Conley listens during opening statements in his trial at Fulton County Superior Court in Atlanta on Wednesday, Sept. 17, 2025. The 25-year-old is accused of fatally shooting 8-year-old Secoriea Turner in July 2020. (Abbey Cutrer/AJC)

Credit: abbey.cutrer@ajc.com

Police abandoned area where 8-year-old was shot, detective testifies

The testimony came as trial began for Julian Conley, the man accused of fatally shooting the child near the burned-down Wendy’s where Rayshard Brooks was killed weeks earlier.

Emory giving free tuition to students from families making under $200,000

Starting next academic year, Emory University will be tuition-free for undergraduates whose families earn less than $200,000, a move that could help hundreds of students.

Weekend Predictions: Another winning weekend for Falcons, Georgia Tech?

Weekend Predictions is off to a hot start. But will wins by the Atlanta Falcons, Georgia Tech and Georgia State keep this streak alive?