Gwinnett County Police Chief Tom Doran, who was appointed in November, plans to retire from the department next month.
Doran said in a Thursday evening email addressed to police personnel that his last day would be July 17.
“This decision was not easy, but I truly feel it is the right time to pass the torch and begin the next chapter of my life,” he wrote. “I have been very fortunate to be a member of this great agency for nearly 27 years and will cherish every experience and memory.”
When he took over the department last year, Doran said building a better relationship with Gwinnett’s diverse populations was a key priority. His predecessor, Butch Ayers, was in the role for five years.
Doran started at the Gwinnett County Police Department in 1993 as an officer. He is the fifth-straight Gwinnett chief to have risen all the way through the ranks.
Gwinnett County spokesman Joe Sorenson said he could not comment on Doran’s reasons for retiring. A police department public information officer did not immediately respond to a request to speak with Doran.
He will be replaced by Brett West, a deputy chief who also began his career with the department. He started in 1991.
