June 4, 2025
Disgrace ts Jones-Harrell brings over twenty years of legislation enforcement service
A metropolis in Cobb County, Georgia has damaged obstacles with its new appointment for police chief. A Black girl will lead the Austell Police Division for the primary time in its historical past.
A unanimous metropolis council vote established Shameta Jones-Harrell as Austell’s new police chief. She’s going to now reign as the primary girl and Black girl to tackle the function in Cobb county. The division introduced the information to Fb June 2.
In accordance with her new bio on the Austell metropolis web site, Chief Harrell has over twenty years of legislation enforcement service. Earlier than beginning her spectacular profession, she earned her Bachelor’s of Science in Legal Justice with a Focus in Forensic Science at Jacksonville State College in Alabama. She started as a Uniform Patrol officer in Metro Atlanta’s Faculty Park Police Division in 2000.
She then turned a member of the Particular Weapons and Techniques Crew (SWAT) earlier than serving as a Area Coaching Officer. Forward of her promotion to Sergeant, she additionally labored as a detective within the Legal Investigations Division. Her work specialised in intercourse crimes, home violence, and crimes towards kids.
She then transitioned to the Brookhaven Police Division as a Uniform Patrol Sergeant in 2013. Whereas there, she launched applications whereas main new divisions that remodeled the company. As a Commander of Help Companies for the division, she aided within the rebrand of the Group Policing Unit to the “Group Engagement Unit.” The identify change higher mirrored its objectives to work alongside the neighborhood it serves.
Harrell additionally initiated the “One Congregation One Precinct (OneCop)” program to attach the division with faith-based organizations in its neighborhood. Moreover, she helped improve police accountability and reform efforts as liaison for the Social Justice, Race, and Fairness Fee’s (SJREC) Police Accountability & Legitimacy Committee. She suggested the committee on her personal company’s requirements and tips for equitable policing to form their very own suggestions, impacting the modifications to police work that fight historic injustices.
She’s going to now lead as Austell police chief as they defend a predominately Black neighborhood. In accordance with U.S. Census Information, Black folks accounted for 63.2% of metropolis residents in 2024.
With memberships within the Georgia Affiliation of Chiefs of Police (GACP) and the Worldwide Affiliation of Chiefs of Police (IACP), Harrell hopes to make use of her huge expertise and prior management to higher serve all inside Austell and Cobb County.