LAWRENCEVILLE – Captain Tim Wallis of the Lawrenceville Police Department has been named the sole finalist for the chief of police position following an extensive nationwide search. More than 60 resumes were received from across 15 states and five federal agencies. The City considered both internal and external candidates and elected to promote from within, elevating Wallis from captain to chief after serving the department in progressive leadership roles over the last two decades.
City Manager Chuck Warbington said, “Tim Wallis was chosen for his leadership in the department and in the community. The unique combination of education, diplomacy, relationships and respect from his peers made him the most qualified and abled candidate to lead our public safety operations moving forward. I am excited for Lawrenceville and for our police department and look forward to what Chief Wallis’ leadership will enable our community to accomplish together.”
Wallis comes to the position with more than 20 years of experience serving the Lawrenceville community and nearly 30 in the law enforcement field. He holds a Master’s Degree in public safety administration from Columbus State University and a Bachelor’s degree in criminal justice from Georgia Southern University. As Captain, Wallis led the entire uniform division for the local bureau, managing five lieutenants, six sergeants and all uniform personnel under their charge. With 72 sworn officers in the department, Wallis’ new duties as police chief will focus on crime prevention, criminal investigation, officer training, special operations, civilian personnel and emergency response.
“I am grateful for this leadership opportunity,” said Chief Wallis. “This department is filled with strong, respectable men and women who put their lives on the line every day and I am humbled to have the privilege of leading them and serving them in that right. I look forward to working closely with the City to support its vision for growth while working to keep our residents and visitors safe and protected in the process.”
Lawrenceville’s police department is responsible for just over 13 square miles of city limits and works in tandem with Gwinnett-wide law enforcement operations as the County Seat and home to Gwinnett’s judicial and executive offices, magistrate court services and the County jail. Wallis’ leadership of this organization will not only involve responsibility for one of Gwinnett’s municipalities, but for the largest and most comprehensive municipal police force in the County, second only to the County. Chief Wallis will begin his new responsibilities on March 16, 2018. For more information about the City of Lawrenceville or the Lawrenceville Police Department, please visit www.LawrencevilleGA.org or www.LawrencevillePD.com
