‘I’ve given all I can.’ Warner Robins Police Chief John Wagner retires after 31 years

After 31 years, today is Warner Robins Police Chief John Wagner’s last day with the department.

After more than three decades at WRPD — the last three as it’s chief — Wagner is retiring.

“31 years is enough,” Wagner told the Telegraph. “I have seen a lot, heard a lot, seen the best of things, seen the worst of things. This isn’t a decision that’s taken lightly. This is a decision that’s been worked on over a year.

“And I know it’s time. I put my heart and soul into the police department. I sacrificed, I’ve asked for sacrifices for my family. And it’s just time to say you’re done. I’ve given all I can, and it’s time for somebody else to take the reins and run the police department.”

Wagner said he has seen “tremendous” changes in law enforcement during his three decades of service and challenges like the pandemic, social unrest and staff shortages during his leadership were “unlike any chief would have ever experienced.”

“But in my three years, I feel like I have done well,” he said. “We’re still winning, it’s harder to still win though. But whoever comes in, those are things that they’re going to have to take on in the department.”

Understaffing and difficulty attracting new recruits have been major challenges for the department.

“We’re the 11th largest city in the state,” he said. “I think people still have the mentality of Warner Robins being a small city, and it’s not. We have big city crime. You have gangs, we answer a tremendous amount of calls. We’ve always been a full service agency. And that somewhat comes to a detriment now.

“At some point, you have to say, ‘No, we can’t do that fluff any longer.’ And you have to look at things where you’re not necessarily cutting corners, but you have to make sure that you’re answering the calls that are serious.”

Wagner said he will help his predecessor during the transition.

“I want the City of Warner Robins to prosper,” he said. “I want the police department to prosper. And I’m here for them and will make sure that whoever comes in, that I’m available to them to impart whatever knowledge I have to make this place better.”

Warner Robins Mayor LaRhonda Patrick said she was surprised that Wagner was stepping down.

“I am so thrilled to have had the opportunity to work and serve beside him for the nine months I have been here,” Patrick said. “I will miss him being here. I was really hoping that we could work together to make our department an even better department. But I do respect his wishes to go into retirement, it’s his time, it’s his decision … I wish him nothing but the best.”

The mayor said she is conducting the search for an interim police chief both within and outside the Warner Robins department.

“I am basically turning over every rock and stone I can, because we don’t have a lot of time,” Patrick said. “I’m considering individuals who have recently retired from our department and have a great work ethic.

“I have a number of people that I will be seeking to speak to about potentially coming on an interim basis while we go through that full vetting process for the best law enforcement leader in our area to be the new permanent police chief.”