DPS Commissioner Appoints New Leadership Team

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
July 29, 2003

(ATLANTA)--Georgia Department of Public Safety Commissioner Colonel George Ellis today announced the promotions of six people to command positions in the Georgia State Patrol. Those promoted are Major Kenny Hancock and Major Arthur White to the rank of Lieutenant Colonel, and Captains Mike Bohannon, Don Chastain, Keith Sorrells, and Freddie Taylor to the rank of Major. All promotions are effective August 1.

Lt. Colonel Hancock will oversee field operations for the 48 Georgia State Patrol posts across the state and in his new position will also be the Deputy Commissioner for the Department of Public Safety. Lt. Colonel White will oversee special operations and administration for the Department of Public Safety. Other designations of assignments for those newly promoted include Major Don Chastain, North Division Adjutant; Major Mike Bohannon, South Division Adjutant; Major Freddie Taylor, Special Operations Adjutant; and Major Keith Sorrells, Human Resources Adjutant. Major Corky Jewell has been designated as Communications/Headquarters Adjutant. Colonel Ellis also announced that Major Tommy Tomlinson, currently North Division Adjutant, will retire at the end of August.

"These promotions are made only after careful consideration of the qualifications of each person," Colonel Ellis said. "All are veteran law enforcement officers and administrators. I am confident each will provide excellent leadership to the Department in the coming years. This will benefit the citizens of Georgia as the Department of Public Safety works toward its mission of saving lives and enforcing the traffic and criminal laws of this state."

Colonel Ellis added, "Quality leadership is the key to a successful operation and that, in turn, translates to better service by Department personnel to the motorists that travel Georgia's highways." Headquarters operations will also be streamlined through a chain of command with the Training Unit, Personnel Division, Recruiting Office and Public Information Office reporting to Major Sorrells, Human Resources adjutant.

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