Turner named interim APD chief
George Turner on Wednesday called it an "amazing time" for him to serve as Atlanta's acting police chief and made it clear he wants to keep the job on a full-time basis.
Turner is a Grady baby who was raised in Perry Homes, one of Atlanta's first housing projects. Now deputy chief, Turner joined the force in 1981 and previously commanded the Zone 1 precinct in northwest Atlanta.
Mayor-elect Kasim Reed said he picked Turner to serve as his interim chief because he will fight gang violence, help recruit new police officers and work hard to improve morale.
Turner, 50, will begin serving as acting chief on Jan. 4, when Reed is to be sworn in as mayor. Outgoing Chief Richard Pennington has agreed to stay on until then, Reed said.
Reed said a top priority is to hire a police chief within his first 120 days in office. He will conduct a national search to attract the best candidates.
When asked if he would apply for the chief's job, Turner did not hesitate. "I will definitely do that," he said. Last year, Turner was a finalist for the police chief's job in Fort Worth, Texas.
Reed touted Turner's record on the force, noting the deputy chief has "an outstanding reputation."
Turner now heads APD's support services division, with oversight of the 911 center, recruiting, training and the department's $164 million budget. Turner helped recruit 455 new officers to APD during 2006 and 2007, Reed said at a press conference at his City Hall transition officers.
Turner said that while he has had success recruiting officers, APD has struggled to keep them. Reed said Wednesday he will find $5 million in the city's budget to give Atlanta officers the incremental pay increases that are needed to keep them on the force.
Reed's choice of Turner has the support of the International Brotherhood of Police Officers, the largest police union in Atlanta.
"This is a step in the right direction," Sgt. Scott Kreher, the union's president, said, describing Turner as being an engaged deputy chief who visits crime scenes and the local precincts. "He's not just a figurehead."
Turner has often been APD's point person before the Atlanta City Council.
Atlanta City Council member C.T. Martin applauded Turner's appointment. "He's responsive" Martin said. "If you ask him to look into something, he'll do it."
Because Pennington is often difficult to reach, Martin said, Turner "has been the chief as far as I've been concerned, for quite a while."
Mayor Shirley Franklin said Turner's leadership style and experience will serve Reed and the city well. She called Martin's comments about Pennington "offensive and unfounded," saying Turner has learned from the best under Pennington's leadership.
On Wednesday, a beaming Turner, who is married with four children, was surrounded by family members and colleagues on the force. In the past 18 months, he noted, both his mother and father had passed away. "I know they are looking down on me and they're extremely proud," he said.
Noting Turner's humble upbringing, Reed said Atlanta's acting chief should serve as an inspiration to the city's youth. "He's shown if they work hard and study hard, there are no limits where their life can take them," Reed said. "Chief Turner is living proof of that."
About the Author
Bill Rankin has been an AJC reporter for more than 30 years. His father, Jim Rankin, worked as an editor for the newspaper for 26 years, retiring in 1986. Bill has primarily covered the state’s court system, doing all he can do to keep the scales of justice on an even keel. Since 2015, he has been the host of the newspaper’s Breakdown podcast.
