Milton Hires New Police Chief

MILTON, GA -- Following a national search, the city of Milton will soon have a permanent chief to lead the Police Department.

George "Rich" Austin, Jr., the captain of Internal Affairs at the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department in North Carolina, will join Milton on Jan. 30, 2017.

With more than 25 years experience in law enforcement, Austin has served in a variety of patrol, administrative and leadership positions over the course of his career.

From his early days as a patrol officer in the small town of Pineville, N.C., to his lengthy and highly decorated tenure with the city of Charlotte, he has "consistently demonstrated a commitment to building community partnerships, empowering staff and operating with transparency," the city of Milton said Wednesday.

"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," Mayor Joe Lockwood said. "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 was one of 100 applicants vying for the police chief position. Advertised in early August, the position drew interested applicants from across the U.S., from the West Coast to the East Coast and a number of states in between.

The five-member interview committee, chaired by Krokoff, included city management staff, as well as a representative from Milton's Municipal Court and the Milton business community.

"The level of interest in this position is a true testament to the Milton community," Krokoff added. "Chief Austin is an accomplished leader with a well-rounded law enforcement background and we are eager to get him on board."

Image via city of Milton