Milton Police Chief Resigns

The city of Milton will soon embark on the course to find a new police chief.

Deborah Harrell has announced plans to resign from the post, effective Thursday, Dec. 4.

Harrell is leaving “to pursue corporate asset management in the private sector,” the city said in a press rease.

Harrell was honored on Monday by the Milton City Council for her nearly eight years of service to the city and 20 years in law enforcement.

Harrell began her career in Milton in February 2007 and was later appointed to police chief in March 2009.

Shortly after being named police chief, Harrell successfully led the Milton Police Department in gaining state certification through the Georgia Association of Chiefs of Police.

In 2011, the agency was selected as one of five departments internationally to receive a grant through the Commission on Accreditation for Law Enforcement Agencies (CALEA). It gained the accreditation in 2014.

In 2012 Harrell was selected as one of 17 members to participate in the Georgia International Law Enforcement exchange to Israel. Also in 2012 she attended the Georgia Law Enforcement Executive Development Seminar presented by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and was a guest at the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children in Virginia for a Chief Executive Officer Seminar.

During her tenure as chief, Harrell also implemented a community outreach officer position, resulting in the development of the Milton Police and Citizens Together program (MPACT), Rape Aggression Defense (RAD) classes and the inaugural Milton Police Academy.

Photo credit: city of Milton