Warren Summers Named Norcross Police Chief

After a three-month assessment, the City of Norcross announced yesterday that Warren Summers will take over as police chief in the City of Norcross. Current Chief Dallas Stidd has retired, with the new chief officially taking office Dec. 28. 

The city relied on the Georgia Association of Chief’s of Police to carry out the initial selection process, then vetted the candidates internally, “asking a lot of tough questions,” according to City Manager Rudolph Smith.

“Warren Summers has proven his ability to bring courtesy, integrity, and a well-rounded base of knowledge to his leadership roles,” said Norcross Mayor Bucky Johnson in a city statement. 

Summers has over 30 years of experience in law enforcement and has also practiced law.  He began his career in 1976 in the City of Stockbridge. By 1978, Summers had become the Sheriff’s Deputy for the Rockdale County Sheriff’s Office in Conyers. Summers stayed in Rockdale County until 2006, taking on various rolls, including Executive Officer and Commander of the East Metro Drug Enforcement Team, a multi-jurisdictional drug task force.

After earning his bachelor’s and J.D., Summers practiced law, becoming an Assistant District Attorney in 2009. “I thought it’d be fun to practice law, but after a few years, realized I really missed being a law enforcement officer,” said Summers in the city statement.

“I’m a participatory manager, meaning I don’t just sit in the office, but am also out in the field. Having a law degree helps me teach other officers how to be more prosecution oriented – teaching and mentoring so that in addition to arresting felons, they can improve their ability to get them legally convicted.”

Summers recognized the challenges of taking on the top job at force when thousands of new residents will enter the city on Jan. 1. “Thirty years of law enforcement have taught me how to manage a wide variety of changes,” said Summers in the statement.