GBI Director Returns To Former Cobb Public Safety Post

MARIETTA, GA — GBI Director Mike Register, who once held top positions both in Cobb County and Clayton County police departments, is returning to Cobb to helm the county's public safety office.

The Cobb County Board of Commissioners are expected to vote on Register's appointment as the county's new public safety director at 7 p.m. Tuesday, in its meeting room, 100 Cherokee St., in Marietta.

Cobb government officials announced Thursday Register's resignation as the director of the Georgia Bureau of Investigation. The Cobb County Police Department also shared the news Monday in a Facebook post, welcoming back its former police chief.

Along with Cobb Police, Register was also the police chief for the Clayton County Police Department and was the assistant chief of the Cobb County Sheriff's Office before moving on to the GBI, authorities said. Register has been in public safety for 30 years, according to county officials.

“It has been an honor to be the director of the GBI and serve under one of Georgia’s greatest governors, Brian Kemp,” Register said in a news release Thursday. “I leave a great law enforcement agency with some of the most dedicated and competent professionals I have ever worked with. I look forward to leading the tremendous men and women who make up public safety in Cobb County and once again serve a great community.”

Register will take over a position vacated when Randy Crider retired at the end of 2022, county officials said. Cobb Fire Chief Bill Johnson has served as interim director since the beginning of this year.

“We are thrilled that he has agreed to come back and lead public safety in Cobb," Cobb Chairwoman Lisa Cupid said in the release. “We are making tremendous strides in public safety, and it will be a tremendous benefit to our citizens to have a director who has already forged relationships in the community and has a deep understanding of the opportunities we have as a county.”