By Mark Woolsey
The City of Mableton has hired its first public safety director.
Council members voted 5-1 Wednesday night to hire Dr. Kerry Stallings. The vote followed strong praise from Mayor Michael Owens and concerns expressed by one council member.
Council member Keisha Jeffcoat voted against the hire. Council member Michael McNeely was absent.
Stallings will lead the effort to develop a public safety department, including police operations and other functions, for the South Cobb city of about 78,000 residents.
He is leaving his position as police chief for the University System of Georgia, where he oversaw public safety operations at about 25 colleges and universities across the state.
Owens described Stallings as, in essence, “a chief of chiefs.”
University System of Georgia Chancellor Sonny Perdue offered similar praise in a news release.
“Chief Stallings has brought steady leadership, expertise and a clear commitment to keep students, faculty and staff safe throughout his time with us,” Perdue said.
Jeffcoat said she respects Stallings’ experience but questioned whether he was prepared for the position.
“We are building a public safety organization from the ground up,” she said, adding that she was concerned Stallings lacked the high-level executive leadership needed for such a project.
Stallings has broad law enforcement experience. He holds a doctorate in public administration, received national recognition for advocating for officers’ mental health, served on an electronic crimes task force and received the Governor’s Public Safety Award for Heroism.
Stallings was sworn in at the close of the meeting.