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Police chief reports recent advanced training and warns of regional academy closure affecting recruit placements
Summary
The police chief told the council the department recently hosted advanced Georgia POST training and warned that the North Central Georgia Law Enforcement Academy in Austell — which had previously operated a Marietta training site — is likely to close after June, reducing local recruit training capacity.
The police chief briefed the Marietta City Council on recent training activity and an emerging challenge: the near-term closure of the North Central Georgia Law Enforcement Academy in Austell, which will limit local options for sending recruits to the basic 20-week academy.
Why it matters: Local academy capacity affects the city’s ability to train new officers and maintain staffing levels. The chief said many neighboring jurisdictions will face the same challenge when the Austell academy winds down, meaning departments must secure academy slots elsewhere.
Chief’s update: The department has hosted two advanced Georgia POST classes recently (including an advanced firearms class currently underway) and has allowed officers from other agencies to attend. Several department members are in Washington, D.C., for the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial events. The chief noted it had been several years since the department could send personnel because of manpower limitations.
Academy closure: The chief said North Central Georgia Law Enforcement Academy, which previously operated a Marietta site on Church Street extension, is expected to shut down after a June mandate ends unless another large jurisdiction or group steps in to operate it; the chief estimated an 80–90% chance it will close. That will require Marietta and neighboring departments to identify alternative academies, such as one in Alpharetta, to enroll recruits for required basic training.
Staffing timeline: The chief said the department expects new officers to graduate and be available for assignment after the June academy cycle, with local recruit graduations anticipated in July, subject to academy availability.
Council note: Members expressed appreciation for the training programs and the department’s recent outreach in offering classes to neighboring agencies.
