Sandy Springs’ director of public safety has a new job — police chief in Hampton, Va.

Terry Sult, 56, was named to the post Wednesday night after a national search, the city said in a news release.

The appointment is effective Oct. 7.

Sult has previously been police chief in Gastonia, N.C., and Sandy Springs.

He said he’s looking forward to his new position.

“Hampton is a beautiful city with a strong history and a great future,” he said. “The crime rate overall has been decreasing, and the force has an excellent record of solving crimes. Our foremost priority is to prevent crime.”

Sult has worked in Sandy Springs for five years.