After a nationwide search, Milton has named a 26-year law enforcement veteran from North Carolina its new police chief.
George “Rich” Austin Jr. will join the Milton Police Department on Jan. 30 from the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department, where he is captain of internal affairs. He will succeed Steve Krokoff, who was appointed chief in February 2015 and has held two jobs since February 2016 when the City Council named him interim city manager.
“Chief Austin brings a wealth of education and professional experience to the city of Milton, and we are excited to have him join us in January,” said Mayor Joe Lockwood. “We appreciate the contributions made by outgoing Chief Steven Krokoff over the last two years and look forward his continued leadership as Milton’s city manager.”
Austin entered law enforcement in 1990 as a patrol officer in Pineville, N.C., near Charlotte, and joined the Charlotte-Mecklenburg department in 1993, according to his LinkedIn profile. He has served in patrol, criminal investigations, internal investigations, community policing, traffic, personnel management, budgeting, administration, policy development and management.
Austin has master’s degrees in criminal justice, public administration, public management, Christian education and music and bachelor’s degrees in criminal justice and music from a number of universities.
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