June 07, 2021
City Manager Ed Densmore announced his appointment of Mark J. Mitchell as the new police chief for the City of Johns Creek. A 28-year law enforcement veteran, Mitchell most recently served as the chief of staff for the Georgia Department of Juvenile Justice and prior to that was the Chief of Police for the City of Canton.
Mitchell becomes the third police chief in the city's 14-year history and will oversee a staff of 79 sworn police positions and more than a dozen civilian staff.
"With almost three decades of law enforcement experience, his knowledge of public engagement, building trust and creating lasting relationships within diverse communities, Mark is an ideal fit for our community," Densmore said. "He has an intimate understanding of what it takes to run an agency the size of ours and he brings an appreciation for the exceptional level of service Johns Creek residents expect and deserve."
Mitchell received a master’s degree in Criminal Justice from Troy University and is a graduate of the 207th Session of the FBI National Academy. He has more than 14 years of command level experience in police administration, criminal investigations, special operations, juvenile justice, and behavioral issues including mental illness or crisis intervention.
"I am confident Mark will be an outstanding Chief who will proactively and respectfully engage with our community to build upon public trust, promote inclusion, and foster a confidence within the department," said Johns Creek Mayor Mike Bodker. "He is a tremendous asset for our city and we look forward to his guidance and leadership in helping keep Johns Creek one of the safest cities in the country."
The City of Johns Creek selected the International Association of Chiefs of Police (IACP) to manage the national search for a highly qualified candidate to be the next Police Chief for the city. The city and the IACP defined the candidate profile through stakeholder interviews, an evaluation of the policing environment, and connecting with elected and appointed leaders, department heads, members of the Johns Creek Police Department, and members of the community.
The city and IACP then conducted a community survey of Johns Creek residents to help ascertain community concerns and the public’s desired qualifications and attributes for a new chief. Following an exhaustive search process, the IACP then identified a group of highly-qualified candidates and coordinated a community panel interview process, a law enforcement/Police Chief panel interview process, and an internal city staff panel interview process. At the conclusion of the panel interviews, City Manager Densmore and the IACP interviewed the top final candidates and reviewed and discussed all panel input to allow Densmore to select a final candidate for the position.
“I am honored to be appointed as the next Chief of Police for Johns Creek and I am eager to share my vision for establishing a winning culture of trust, respect, inclusion, and professional development within the department,” Mitchell said. “I am confident my experience and my approach to 21st Century Policing will have a positive impact within the community.”
Mitchell will be sworn in as the Chief of Police at the June 21, 2021, City Council Meeting.