Gwinnett commissioners Tuesday affirmed the contract of their new police chief, Butch Ayers.
Ayers, a 30-year veteran of the department, will take over as chief Saturday, following the retirement of Chief Charlie Walters. Ayers, 52, is the assistant chief in the department and commands the administrative services division.
“I’m excited and honored to be given this opportunity,” Ayers said. “I’m looking forward to the challenges.”
Ayers said he was most concerned about halting the level of attrition in the department, which has lost officers to new cities in the region and other areas that have been able to offer higher pay.
With more manpower, Ayers said, the department will be able to be more proactive. He said he would like to restore community response teams and other proactive policing policies that have had to take a back seat as officers spent more time responding to 911 calls.
Pay increases are also a priority, he said.
In a meeting Tuesday prior to Ayers’ approval, District 2 Commissioner Lynette Howard said the new chief had the support of his staff.
“I hope you’re looking forward to this as much as we’re looking forward to you,” she said.
Commission Chairman Charlotte Nash said she was pleased with Ayers’ ability to preserve the county’s culture “and take us into the future.”
“I want to be able to make a difference,” Ayers said. “I want to leave it better than when I started.”
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