Chief Scott Hamilton made history as Austell’s first African American police chief. Now, after two and a half years of service, he announces his departure to focus on family.
🚔 What’s Happening: Hamilton submitted his resignation as Austell’s police chief this week. Under his leadership, the department moved closer to achieving its first-ever state certification.
👨🏾✈️ Who Made it Happen: Hamilton credits his success to strong partnerships with Mayor Ollie Clemons, the Austell City Council, and the community. He built a capable command staff ready to continue his vision for the department.
💫 Why It Matters: During his tenure, Hamilton broke barriers as the city’s first Black police chief. He prioritized both citizen safety and staff development, creating new opportunities for officer training and education.
🎯 What He Accomplished: Hamilton led the department through significant changes, including:
- Initiating the process for state certification
- Enhancing officer training programs
- Strengthening community relationships
- Building a sustainable leadership structure
👋 What’s Next: Hamilton plans to spend time with family while considering his next career move. He leaves behind a department well-positioned for continued success.
The Last Word: Here is Hamilton’s letter of resignation in its entirety.
“First, I would like to thank God, my Lord and Savior, for with him, all things are possible. I would like to thank Mayor Ollie Clemons, Austell City Council, and the loyal citizens of Austell for allowing me to be their Police Chief for the past 2 1/2 years. I’ve decided to step down as the Police Chief. It has been my responsibility to ensure that the safety and quality of life for the citizens of Austell is preserved. I also have a responsibility to my staff to provide an environment for career development, training, and education. I feel I have completed both of those tasks. My command staff is fully prepared to continue the journey we have started to ensure Austell PD is one of the best police departments in the state.
In my tenure, my staff and I have worked countless hours to create a department that is currently in the process of receiving its’ first state certification in the history of the department’s existence.
So, I feel it’s time to spend some quality time with my family and make some decisions about the next chapter. As our vision statement states, ‘Success is a journey, NOT a destination.’”
B.T. Clark
B.T. Clark is an award-winning journalist and the Publisher of The Georgia Sun. He has 25 years of experience in journalism and served as Managing Editor of Neighbor Newspapers in metro Atlanta for 15 years and Digital Director at Times-Journal Inc. for 8 years. His work has appeared in several newspapers throughout the state including Neighbor Newspapers, The Cherokee Tribune and The Marietta Daily Journal. He is a Georgia native and a fifth-generation Georgian.
