GACP Executive Board
and Staff
Joseph W. Wirthman
President Frank V. Rotondo
Executive Director
Wesley Walker
1st Vice President W. Dwayne Orrick
Assistant Executive Director
Tony Tanner
2nd Vice President Monica Duran
Training Coordinator
J. Frank Waits
3rd Vice President John Whitaker
Special Projects
Coordinator
Bruce Hedley
4th Vice President
Dennis Nelson
Immediate Past President
Bruce Carlisle
Chair of the District
Representatives
Michael A. Caldwell
General Counsel
Mark Bender
State Certification
Coordinator
Ellen Cormier
Administrative Manager
Cathy Oehler
Member Relations
Coordinator
Keira Bailey
Receptionist
Georgia Association of Chiefs of Police
3500 Duluth Park Lane, Suite 700
Duluth, GA 30096
(Continued from Cover)
Another goal was to bring Executive Level training to Chiefs in our
rural areas. Some of our Chiefs neither have the time nor budget to
attend GACP’s winter or summer conferences. I have asked Chief
Carlisle, our District Representative Chair, to encourage more Dis-
tricts to hold more meetings with better attendance. In the last
three months several districts have complied with over 350 in at-
tendance at these meetings. We also presented our first webinar on
Social Media with 117 individuals receiving credit for attending.
Thank you, Chief Billy Grogan, for your efforts in getting this off the
ground. We are already planning for the next one.
Reducing distracted driving is another goal. Traffic deaths are down
for the year which can be attributed to the new legislation regard-
ing the use of cell phones in a vehicle. We as an organization must
remain diligent to ensure our Legislature does not remove the
restrictions or penalties associated with distracted driving.
In my almost 42 years of service I have enjoyed many great honors.
On November 30 th I experienced an honor in Savannah that will stay
with me forever. Joined by other Board Members Wesley Lyons,
Tony Tanner and Frank Waits I had the privilege of presenting an
award and proclamation recognizing the first sworn African-
American police officer in the State of Georgia to Lt. John White of
the Savannah Police Department. After serving as a Marine in
World War II, Lt. White was recruited and joined the department.
After completing weeks of training, along with nine other African-
American recruits, he was the first to be sworn as a Savannah Police
Officer. He went on to serve the City of Savannah for 37 years.
In August, Executive Director Frank V. Rotondo underwent heart
surgery. I am happy to announce he has recovered and returned
to work.
Congratulations to Chief Bruce Carlisle on his appointment by
Governor Nathan Deal to the Board of Public Safety.
In closing, congratulations to three outstanding leaders who recent-
ly announced their retirements. Chief Keith Glass of the Monroe
Police Department, Chief Carol Martin of the Gainesville Police De-
partment and Director Vernon Keenan Director of the GBI have
served our State and its communities for decades. Your determina-
tion, integrity and leadership will be missed, but certainly followed.
Your shoes and hat will be hard to fill.
Phone:
770.495.9650
Fax:
770.495.7872
Toll free: 877.530.4682 Joseph Wirthman
Email: [email protected]
Website: www.gachiefs.com Chief Joseph Wirthman
GACP President, 2018-2019
outside /770, 404 & 678
www.gachiefs.com • Page 2 • 1st Quarter Newsletter