Dennis Nelson, warden of the Clayton County Correctional Institution, was named president of the Georgia Association of Chiefs of Police at its annual banquet. Clayton County CI is correctional facility housing convicted State of Georgia prisoners and is located in the south Metropolitan Atlanta area.

Prior to Clayton County, Nelson was chief of police with the city of Metter Police Department.

Nelson has served in law enforcement for over 37 years working with the city police departments of Metter, Roswell, Milton and Acworth, as well as sheriff’s offices in Forsyth, Gwinnett and Fulton counties. He has worked in numerous capacities including accreditation, investigation, patrol, traffic enforcement and specialized accident investigation, community outreach, court security, jail administration, support services, records, warrants and administration. He has supervised, managed and/or commanded in all areas of law enforcement, including holding positions as chief of police, warden, deputy chief and chief jailer.

Nelson has served on several state law enforcement accreditation and certification boards and has also been a certified law enforcement assessor and team leader for the Commission on Accreditation for Law Enforcement Agencies Inc. for the past 23 years.

Nelson has a bachelor of science degree in Criminal Justice Administration and is a graduate of the Southern Police Institute’s Administrative Officers Course, the Columbus State University Command College Professional Management Program and the FBI LEEDS. He is also a graduate of the Georgia State University’s Georgia International Law Enforcement Exchange Program as a visiting delegate to the nation of Israel in 2003.