Fulton School System Welcomes New Police Chief

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Atlanta, GA --- A new face has signed on to lead the Fulton County Schools Police Department.

Melvin G. Dean, a law enforcement veteran with nearly 30 years’ military and law enforcement experience in the Fulton County community, was issued his oath of office at Tuesday’s school board meeting.

In his new role, Dean will lead the Fulton County Schools Police Department, a division of the school system that provides a focus on safety and security through more than 70 certified police officers and administrative staff serving in more than 100 schools and auxiliary buildings.

“Chief Dean brings a demonstrated record of success and a broad knowledge of the Fulton County community to his role as chief of police,” said interim Superintendent Kenneth Zeff. “This is a tremendous asset to our students and schools. He has a reputation as a highly effective law enforcement administrator who is focused on results and accountability. This makes him an outstanding choice to lead our Fulton County Schools School Police Department.”

Dean began his law enforcement career as a commissioned officer assigned to a Military Police unit in the U.S. Army. In this role he gained fundamental leadership training as well as a desire to serve the community as a peace officer, later leading to careers with the Fulton County Sheriff’s Department and the Fulton County Police Department.

Over the past 19 years with the Fulton County Police Department, he has held a variety of roles in the field and at the administrative level, and most recently has served as Patrol Division Watch Commander.

In addition to being certified by the Police Officer Standards and Training Council, which oversees law enforcement certification, Dean holds a bachelor’s degree in public administration from the University of Mississippi and is completing degree requirements this month for a master’s degree in public safety from Columbus State University’s Georgia Law Enforcement Command College.

He also holds a certificate in Public Safety Leadership Management from Mercer University and has completed the FBI National Academy, a professional development course for law enforcement leaders. He also is a member of the National Organization of Black Law Enforcement Executives (NOBLE), Federal Bureau of Investigation’s National Academy Associates, World Taekwondo Federation and Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, Inc.

Created in 1989, the Fulton County Schools Police Department provides safety support and response to schools and central office buildings. Depending on school size or population, Fulton middle and high schools have between 1-2 school-based officers who are in place and ready to respond to any potential safety situation.

Officers also are on hand to respond to elementary schools in their area. In addition to meeting the certification standards of the Georgia Peace Officer Standards and Training Council (P.O.S.T.), which is required of all Georgia law enforcement, school police officers also have specialized training that helps them build relationships with students, staff and the school community.

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Photos: New FCS Chief of Police Melvin Dean takes the oath of office issued by Chief Judge Bradley Boyd of the Fulton County Juvenile Court. Credit: Fulton County Schools