Q: We have seen a number of police chiefs on the news lately. Those in uniform display a variety of insignias for their rank, ranging from the traditional colonel’s eagle to 1-4 stars. Is there a guide to the appropriate insignia based on size of department or community? Or does it depend on the department?
—David Moore, Hoschton
A: Georgia doesn't have a standardized system for police chiefs' uniforms, though some law enforcement agencies use military-style insignias.
Chiefs discussed standards 15 to 20 years ago, but couldn’t come up with a system that appealed to everyone, Frank V. Rotondo, the executive director of the Georgia Association of Chiefs of Police, told Q&A on the News.
“It really got to be quite contentious,” he said.
In many police departments, lieutenants wear one bar and captains have two bars, as in the Army and other branches of the U.S. military. Similarly, corporals and sergeants often wear chevrons comparable to their military rank.
Georgia’s commissioner of public safety, Mark W. McDonough, wears an eagle because he is colonel of the Georgia State Patrol.
Chiefs can choose to wear an eagle or one or more stars, depending on the community’s preference.
Q: What’s happening on CBS46 News? So many people are going and coming.
—Donna Wilson, Grayson
A: CBS46 has undergone several personnel changes this year.
New anchors include Bobby Kaple, Gloria Neal, Kim Passoth, Ben Swann and Sharon Reed, the Atlanta Journal-Constitution reported in June.
“We are working to improve our content. It will be an evolution. You’ll see it over the next year, year and a half,” general manager Mark Pimentel told the AJC.
Andy Johnston with Fast Copy News Service wrote this column; Allison Floyd contributed. Do you have a question about the news? We’ll try to get the answer. Call 404-222-2002 or email q&a@ajc.com (include name, phone and city).
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