Dunwoody City Manager Eric Linton announced Feb. 15 that Deputy Chief Mike Carlson will start his new role as Dunwoody police chief in April, succeeding Billy Grogan – who announced his retirement date of June 1.
A news release states that Carlson was one of the founding members of the Dunwoody Police Department, joining as a sergeant in 2009. Since then, he has coordinated the startup of the department’s Citizen Police Academy, Neighborhood Watch, and Chaplain programs. He was promoted to the rank of lieutenant in 2015, major in 2019, and deputy chief in 2021, overseeing the department’s day-to-day operations.
“As Dunwoody’s next Police Chief, I will continue strengthening the partnership with our community, foster innovation, and provide the best training and equipment for our officers and staff,” said Carlson. “I promise to provide effective and compassionate law enforcement services to all who live, work, and visit this great city.”
The news release states that Carlson also retired as a captain with the Georgia National Guard in 2022. He began his part-time service in 2011 and was deployed to Afghanistan in support of Operation Enduring Freedom in 2014, where he was awarded the Afghanistan Campaign Medal with Campaign Star, Meritorious Unit Commendation, and Meritorious Service Medal.
Carlson holds a bachelor’s degree in organizational leadership/public safety from Reinhardt University and a master of public administration from Columbus State University. He is also a graduate of the FBI National Academy, the Georgia International Law Enforcement Exchange, and the Senior Management Institute for Policing at the Police Executive Research Forum, according to the news release.
“Deputy Chief Carlson has played an important role in the building of our excellent police department,” said Mayor Lynn Deutsch….
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