Fayetteville’s new Police Chief Scott Gray received a warm welcome from the Fayetteville City Council last week, and told the audience that he would do everything in his power to keep the city the safest in Georgia. He starts his new position Feb. 9.

Gray, a resident of Covington, was selected after a lengthy process that involved more than 40 resumes and most recently served as a captain in Henry County’s police department and worked various roles in the department for the last 13 years. During his tenure in Henry, Gray performed monthly budget analysis, and managed over 70 employees. While he worked in Henry, he handled the K-9 unit and also conducted vehicle and uniform inspection.

He also worked for other public safety departments in the state including Lake City, Clayton State and Abraham Baldwin College.

Gray also teaches criminal justice classes at Athens Technical College and Georgia Military College, and is a big believer in community involvement.

He has worked with Sirens for Santa, National Night Out and the Law Enforcement Torch Run. Gray has a bachelor’s degree in criminal justice administration and a masters of science in public administration.

Major Jeff McMullan has served as interim chief of police since Sept. 1.

“We had some great candidates show interest in the job, and we’re pleased to announce that Scott Gray has been chosen and has accepted the opportunity,” said City Manager Ray Gibson. “Major McMullan has done an outstanding job as interim police chief over the last five months, and we look forward to seeing our police department command staff work together over the coming months and years to ensure Fayetteville remains one of Georgia’s safest cities.”

It was also announced during Thursday’s meeting that McMullan would serve as deputy chief. Fayetteville’s two top-ranking employees, City Manager Gibson and Police Chief Gray share a recent history in nearby Henry County.

Gibson served as city administrator in Stockbridge in 2011 and 2012. After a two-year stint as city manager in Cochran southeast of Macon in middle Georgia, Gibson came back to Stockbridge as community service director for a few months in 2014 before landing the top job in Fayetteville.

Gray, who lives in Covington, east of Atlanta, worked for the Henry County Police Department for more than a decade.