After about a six-month search process, Atlanta Mayor Andre Dickens has once again tapped an existing Atlanta officer for the next police chief. In this case, Interim Chief Darin Schierbaum is being made permanent chief.
“Chief Schierbaum shares my vision for public safety in Atlanta,” Atlanta Mayor Andre Dickens said. “He has earned my trust, the respect of our community, and the support of the women and men of the Atlanta Police Department. A proponent of 21st Century Policing, Chief Schierbaum will continue building deep ties between the Atlanta police and the community they serve.”
The appointment follows the Atlanta pattern of the past ten or so years. Oftentimes, big city mayors will make a big splashy hire of someone from outside of the city in an attempt to prove they are making a fresh start and “serious about crime” – with maybe a dash of “having their own person” in the role as well. This was somewhat of the case when then-Mayor Shirley Franklin hired Richard Pennington from New Orleans in 2002, where he had earned a reputation for his anti-corruption measures and even make a serious run for mayor that same year.
When Pennington resigned in 2010 following a botched raid of a popular gay bar in Atlanta, Mayor Kasim Reed appointed George Turner, a long-time Atlanta Police Department (APD) veteran to take over. This began the current Atlanta pattern. Erika Shields was next, a twenty-year APD officer who took over in 2016. Thirty-year vet Rodney Bryant took over from her after her resignation.
Schierbaum is the next in the line, having served the city for 20 years. In a city concerned about police morale and on its fourth chief in fifth chief in seven years, consistency and stability is highly valued.
“After interviewing several diverse, high-caliber finalists for the position, I was happy, but not surprised, to find that we had the right candidate already at the post. Over the last five months, Chief Schierbaum and I have spoken nearly every single day about how the Atlanta Police Department is working to enhance safety in our communities. During his service as Interim Chief, we have seen crime drop, significant arrests of gang leaders, and partnership with the community increase. I thank Chief Schierbaum for his willingness to serve and look forward to continuing our partnership to continue building one safe city, with one bright future, together.”
Schierbaum came to Atlanta in 2002 from the Johnson County, Illinois Sheriff’s Department. He graduated as valedictorian of the Atlanta Police Department Academy Class 180 and started out as a beat officer in Midtown. He has now held roles across the city, including roles leading the Community Liaison Unit, the LGBT Liaison Unit, the Hispanic Liaison Unit and the Graffiti Abatement Unit.
“I thank Mayor Dickens for the opportunity to serve this city and the incredible men and women of the Atlanta Police Department,” Chief Schierbaum said. “Atlanta is the city I love, where I have made my home for the last 20 years. I can think of no greater privilege than to continue being able to serve the residents of this great city alongside the civilian and sworn personnel who serve in a Constitutional, committed, competent and compassionate manner every single day. We will continue to aggressively target gangs, drugs and illegal guns in our city, while also deepening the bonds of trust and service between the force and the community.”
