Veteran Athens-Clarke County police officer Jerry Saulters will lead ACCPD while Manager Blaine Williams conducts a nationwide search to replace retired Chief Cleveland Spruill.
Saulters joined the department in 1998 after serving in the Army for seven years and was promoted to deputy chief by Spruill in 2019. He has served in a variety of roles, including robbery/homicide detective, Uniform Patrol shift commander and Criminal Investigations commander. He is a graduate of the University of Louisville.
“I would like to express my sincere gratitude to Manager Williams for affording me the honor to serve as Interim Chief of the Athens-Clarke County Police Department during this transition,” Saulters said in a news release. “I am excited to provide leadership to the outstanding men and women of ACCPD while continuing to build a modern, community-focused agency.”
Jerry Saulters is the father of Taylor Saulters, the ACCPD officer who was fired for hitting a fleeing suspect with his patrol car in 2018 and later received a $250,000 settlement for wrongful termination.
In January, Spruill announced his retirement effective May 10, expressing a desire to be closer to family in Virginia.
Williams said he will be accepting public comment on a new police chief through Apr. 10 via an online form at accgov.com/policechief, paper forms available at City Hall and the Lexington Road precinct headquarters, or voicemail by calling 762-400-8333.
A new chief is expected to be hired by the end of the year.
Like what you just read? Support Flagpole by making a donation today. Every dollar you give helps fund our ongoing mission to provide Athens with quality, independent journalism.
