Forsyth police chief to retire

The city of Forsyth is looking for a new police chief.

Keith Corley, who has served in the job for the past five years, is retiring effective Dec. 3.

A native of Forsyth and lifelong Monroe County resident, he previously served 30 years with the sheriff's office.

"Sometimes you just know when it is time, and I just felt like it was time," said Corley, who oversees about 20 full-time officers, six part-time officers and four radio operators when the department is fully staffed. "Nothing really pulled the trigger."

Under his leadership, the police department became state certified and was one of the first law enforcement agencies in Middle Georgia to get body cameras for its officers.

Corley, 55, said he is concerned about the ability of law enforcement agencies to recruit young people into the profession, considering the modest pay and high scrutiny. He made $9,500 a year when he started working for the sheriff's office in 1981.

"You don't do it for the money," he said. "You do it because you love it."

In the past couple of years, several high-profile incidents have led to increased focus on law enforcement behavior across the country.

"Overall, I think 99 percent of the profession are good, honest people," he said. "But people seem to focus on stupid people doing stupid things."

All of his officers have worn body cameras for the past three years, and that has helped resolve issues, he said.

"The officer, it changes his behavior because he knows he's on tape, and it also changes the violator's behavior because they know they are being taped," he said.

Corley said when he started working as a deputy, law enforcement officers could testify in court and people took them at their word. That's not so much the case now, and people expect video and other evidence to back up what the officer says.

"That's not a bad thing," he said.

City Manager Janice Hall, who has authority over hiring of all personnel, said she expects to advertise the position soon. When Corley was hired, a citizens committee helped interview candidates. She said she hasn't yet decided on the process this time around.

She hopes to have a new chief hired by February and does not plan to name an interim chief.

"We have majors that are over the divisions in the police department," she said. "We'll just have them covering their divisions, and if anything comes up they will get in touch with me."

Eric Wilson, who served on the City Council when Corley was hired and will take office as mayor in January, said Corley has done good work.

"He's a good public servant," Wilson said. "He's very community minded and focused on community oriented policing."

To contact writer Wayne Crenshaw, call 256-9725.

This story was originally published November 20, 2015 at 10:35 PM with the headline "Forsyth police chief to retire ."