Atlanta police chief Richard Pennington's chief of staff is under investigation for allegedly bringing contraband to her son in the DeKalb County Jail, the DeKalb County Sheriff's Office confirmed.

The sheriff's office would not say what Maj. Pearlene Williams, a 28-year-old Atlanta Police Department veteran, is accused of smuggling.

Sheriff's Office spokeswoman Mikki Jones said no further information would be released at this time.

— Larry Hartstein

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Public Service Commission candidate Peter Hubbard gets a hug from Brionté McCorkle, executive director of Georgia Conservation Voters, during an election-night party in Southwest Atlanta on Tuesday, Nov. 4, 2025.  (Ben Gray for the AJC)

Credit: Ben Gray for the AJC