Gwinnett County has named a new police chief to replace the retiring chief, Charlie Walters.

A.A. “Butch” Ayers will take over the role Oct. 25. Walters is retiring after 35 years with the department.

Ayers, a 30-year-veteran of the Gwinnett Police Department, began his law enforcement career with the county. He is currently an assistant chief in the department and commands the administrative services division. Ayers has also overseen professional standards, SWAT, the Central Police Precinct, and the support, operations, criminal investigations and uniform divisions.

A Dacula resident, he has an associate degree in criminal justice from Gainesville State College, a bachelor’s degree in political science from the University of Georgia and a Masters of Public Administration from Columbus State University.

Ayers also is a graduate of the Georgia Law Enforcement Command College and the FBI National Academy.

County commissioners will vote on his appointment Tuesday.

About the Author

Keep Reading

Fulton County Superior Court Judge Robert McBurney — pictured during a hearing Monday, Dec. 15, 2025 — has cleared the way for Georgia's State Election Board to obtain Fulton ballots and other documents from the 2020 election. (Arvin Temkar/AJC)

Credit: Arvin Temkar/AJC

Featured

Fulton County Superior Court Judge Robert McBurney — pictured during a hearing Monday, Dec. 15, 2025 — has cleared the way for Georgia's State Election Board to obtain Fulton ballots and other documents from the 2020 election. (Arvin Temkar/AJC)

Credit: Arvin Temkar/AJC