Breaking: Injuries reported in fire at Fulton County Jail
Politics
Politics

Gwinnett names new police chief

By Arielle Kass
Oct 17, 2014

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

Arielle Kass covers Gwinnett County for The Atlanta Journal-Constitution. She started at the paper in 2010, and has covered business and local government beats around metro Atlanta. Arielle is a graduate of Emory University.

More Stories

Keep Reading

First Liberty Building & Loan founder Brant Frost IV. (Photo illustration: Philip Robibero/AJC)

Credit: Philip Robibero / AJC

Georgia investigators ramp up probe into First Liberty collapse

Witnesses are being called in Georgia Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger's civil inquiry into the collapse of First Liberty Building & Loan.

OPINION

Red flags piling up for Georgia Republicans heading into 2026 midterms

The warnings are mounting for Georgia Republicans about the danger they'll face in the 2026 midterm elections if the party does not change course.

Warnock urges Congress to do more to combat America’s affordability crisis

U.S. Sen. Raphael Warnock said in a speech he worried that concerns about rising costs are leading to something darker: anger and frustration.

The Latest

President Donald Trump dances to music after speaking at the Mount Airy Casino Resort in Mount Pocono, Pa., Tuesday, Dec. 9, 2025. (Matt Rourke/AP)

Credit: AP

OPINION

Red flags piling up for Georgia Republicans heading into 2026 midterms

Warnock urges Congress to do more to combat America’s affordability crisis

Georgia investigators ramp up probe into First Liberty collapse

Featured

Waymo autonomous vehicles operate across 65 square miles inside I-285 and have been involved in six incidents with Atlanta Public School buses since May. Waymo issued a recall because of their cars briefly stopping or slowing down before continuing forward while a bus was stopped and flashing its lights. (Courtesy of Atlanta Public Schools)

Credit: Courtesy of Atlanta Public Schools

Waymo cars ignored stopped school buses in Atlanta. What happens now?

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration opened an investigation. The autonomous vehicle company has issued a software recall.

Search for new MARTA chief hits snag

The search for a new leader for the regional transit authority is widely seen as one of the most important duties facing the Marta Board

Georgia high school coach choked player, put another in headlock, warrants say

The Greene County High coach was charged with two counts of aggravated assault and one count of simple battery, according to investigators.