MABLETON, GA — The City of Mableton has selected its first public safety director, moving the city one step closer to establishing its own police department as a petition calling for the city to be dissolved gains thousands of signatures.
City Council members voted 5-1 to appoint Dr. Kerry Stallings to the position. Stallings currently serves as chief of police for the University System of Georgia and previously worked as a police captain in Powder Springs.
“This is a special moment for our city. To those who championed this cause of creating your own public safety services I’m excited to see the culmination of your efforts and your support,” Stallings said.
Stallings said he is honored to take on the new role.
“I am humbled and I am honored to have been chosen to serve as Mableton’s inaugural public safety director. I appreciate the confidence that you have placed in me,” Stallings said.
Mableton Mayor Michael Owens said city leaders conducted a broad search for the position.
“This position is important, we wanted to make sure that we looked far and wide,” Owens said.
Council member Keisha Jeffcoat cast the only vote against the appointment.
“I believe there is an important distinction between leading a police department, and serving as the executive responsible for building and overseeing an entire public safety organization,” Jeffcoat said.
Mableton has been moving forward with plans to establish its own police department, with the goal of having the department fully operational by next summer.
“Public safety is more than about just policing. It’s about improving quality of life in every facet possible in our community,” Owens said.
The appointment comes as some residents are pushing back against the city’s direction. A petition on Change.org calling for Mableton to be dissolved has received about 2,100 signatures.
Organizers are asking the Georgia General Assembly to “evaluate the fiscal and operational impacts of the City of Mableton and provide a lawful process to dissolve the City of Mableton.”
The petition cites concerns about the potential burden of increased taxes and duplication of services already provided by Cobb County.
Owens said he respects residents’ right to disagree with the city’s direction and welcomes a legislative review if the General Assembly decides to pursue one. He also said voters approved the creation of the city and courts affirmed the process.
The petition will be passed on to elected officials.