ALBANY, Ga. (WALB) — After 11 years as the city’s top law enforcement officer, Albany Police Chief Michael Persley said he will soon be serving the city in a different way.

“Someway, somehow I will be in intervention and prevention,” Persley said. “Something that keeps folks from going down the road they are headed on.”

Persley reportedly informed City Manager Terrell Jacobs of his decision on Thursday, May 28, and the news was announced publicly at the City Commission meeting on Tuesday, June 2.

Persley started his law enforcement career as an Albany Police Department (APD) patrol officer in 1993, when he was hired by then-Police Chief Washington Long. He served in several key roles for APD, including Gang Unit Commander, before being promoted to Captain and then to Police Chief in May 2015.

Over the past few years, Persley has faced a number of challenges, including a severe personnel shortage in his department. As of June 2, APD had 13 entry-level vacant positions.

Another challenge has been battling the perception that Albany has a serious crime problem. Some statistics support that perception, however.

Albany’s crime rate (violent crimes per 1,000 people) is consistently above the national average. Persley has often stated that such statistics are skewed by the fact that most are committed by people who know their victims.

“I understand how some people feel when they ask, ‘How can you call it the Good Life City?’ But the fact is, most folks here are going about their lives. It’s a good city to live in,” Persley said. “Albany’s reputation is not deserved because you have some dedicated people who love this city because it’s their home, but you do have a generation or two who don’t know what hope looks like.”

Persley said the biggest challenge for the next Albany Police Chief will be to keep community buy-in and get the community more involved.

“Getting everyone in the same sandbox to mutually support one another to address the root causes of crime,” he said.

Despite the challenges, Persley said he has no regrets as the Police Chief of Albany.

“It’s always a joy to do the job you always wanted to do. So for everyone—Don’t ever stop chasing your dreams. Do what your heart leads you to do so you have no regrets.”

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