DeKalb police chief retiring; county starts ‘nationwide’ search for successor

Police Chief James Conroy speaks at a DeKalb County Commission meeting. HYOSUB SHIN / HSHIN@AJC.COM

Credit: Hyosub Shin

Credit: Hyosub Shin

Police Chief James Conroy speaks at a DeKalb County Commission meeting. HYOSUB SHIN / HSHIN@AJC.COM

DeKalb County police Chief James Conroy is retiring effective April 30 after 30 years with the department, the county announced Wednesday.

A job listing for his position has already been posted on DeKalb County’s website — the start of a nationwide search for Conroy’s successor.

“Chief Conroy is an example of the best DeKalb County has to offer,” DeKalb CEO Michael Thurmond said in a statement. “His selfless dedication to public service and commitment to honesty, integrity and professionalism has set an example for all DeKalb employees.”

The job posting for police chief states that the salary range is between $135,249 and $209,637. Preferred applicants would have 12 years of experience in the field, with five years of senior management experience.

Conroy has been police chief since December 2013, serving in several different leadership posts.

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Conroy grew up in DeKalb and attended Peachtree High School, the University of Georgia and Columbia Southern University. At the police department, he’s served as the commander of the North Precinct, youth and sex crimes section and the crime analysis and research section.

The county said that during Conroy’s tenure, DeKalb saw reductions in overall crime and an increase in transparency. Conroy oversaw the deployment of body cameras for officers and improved access to a public crime database, according to the statement.

The chief, who verbally tendered his resignation to Thurmond, did not comment publicly on his retirement.

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