Lisa A. Gassner, assistant chief over the support services division of the police department, was appointed interim police chief, according to Burke Brennan, the county’s chief communications officer.
“She was appointed based on her qualifications and her capabilities,” Brennan said.
Police Chief William O’Brien announced in August that he will retire at the end of November and is currently out of the office using accrued vacation until his retirement’s effective date of Nov. 30.
Gassner was the first female major in the DeKalb County Police Department, serving as the commander of South Precinct, where she once was a rookie. Under O’Brien’s administration, she was promoted to deputy chief and then assistant chief, first commanding the special operations division.
Gassner joined the police department in 1986 and has served in the robbery/homicide unit, narcotics unit and the Strike Force. Gassner was one of the first female officers to make the S.W.A.T. team, where she served as a sniper. She has supervised several divisions, including the criminal investigations division and administrative/technical departments.
“Interim Chief Gassner has served admirably in the DeKalb County Police Department for 28 years, and knows the organization top to bottom,” said DeKalb CEO Burrell Ellis. “The department is in good hands as we make a smooth transition to a permanent replacement.”
At least two of the other assistant police chiefs have applied for the top police position, including D. A. Holmes, who heads the uniform division, and A. Williams, who commands the special operations division. The other assistant chief, M. P. Yarbrough, who is assigned to the criminal investigations division, is in FBI training, Brennan said. Gassner has not applied for the position, Brennan said.
The Champion Newspaper
21 comments:
Getting this position will increase your pension when you leave. Great for you. As for being a chief, we know you will have no power to do anything..... Get your rasie and leave as soon as you can...
I worked with Lisa at S. Pct until she went to Black Cats. She did a wonderful job and was not afraid to mix it up when she needed to.
Best of luck Acting Chief... you'll need it...
Lisa is a good one, I would like to see her as the permanent Chief, but she didn't apply so.. The best thing I think about her, is no matter her rank, she has always been one you can approach and talk with, she takes time to listen and has one of the best attitudes no matter the circumstance. Not only that, you can actually call her Lisa, and she wouldn't bat an eye. That said, she also deserves our respect. Not to mention she was one heck of a sniper :)
Like Anon 2:13PM said, Best of luck to you. You'll need it.
Congratulations, worked your way up and it is well deserved, good luck.
So we get a female chief. I guess that's why the powers to be didn't find it necessary to put a female in the new IA unit. Way to go guys, good luck interviewing some of the complainants and officers in your all male unit.
I also noticed that no gay Eskimos were sent to the new IA unit. What does a gay Eskimo have to do to get promoted around here?
Anon 6:36...You sound like one of these Democratic Voters. Little or no information but always running your mouth about things you know nothing about...Major KAREN ANDERSON (A female)is over I.A
You guys kill me with you comments such as....Increase your pension, good for you...GET YOU RAISE AND LEAVE....Funny how certain folks around her can get into a position and all of a sudden it becomes OK TO JUST OCCUPY IT..Remember this when you get your next Chief.
Anon 6:36
Hello!!! The new Major over IA is a female, now the question for you is...why should that even matter???
The new major of IA is a female, but some moron comes on here and says no females are in IA. I wish people who don't know what the hell they are talking about would learn to shut the hell up!
Before you critized Asst. Chief Gassner by being a woman for the position of Interim Chief, it would be better to keep your mouth shut and see what she can do for the time that she will be in power.
You do not know what a person can do until that person does it and complaining is not the way to go about getting something good to come along.
So, quit gripping and see what happens.
I bet she got made fun of in high school.
Anonymous said...
I bet she got made fun of in high school.
Internet trolling like that just reeks of high-self esteem.
You say that i dont know what im talking about and that Major Anderson is over IA. It appears you are retarded or just cant read. I said there were no females in the NEW IA unit. The IA unit Major Anderson is over is not the NEW one. There is a seperate investigative arm attached to IA and that is the NEW unit i was referring to. Also there is a gay Eskimo in the NEW IA unit. Well he is gay anyway.
Speaking of the new IA unit, how does a Lieutenant that creates a hostile work environment everywhere he goes get put in charge there?
If you want to go work for that bipolar egoist, be my guest.
Who is the new I.A. Lt. you are referring too? I cant keep up with the shuffle.
At least she's not one of those $55K a year Captains....
By shuffle, do you mean title, rank or position?
Some would say those $55k a year captains are overpaid.
Worked for Chief Gassner for years,on the streets and CID. She is a good troop, you can turn your back on her and not worry about your 6.
JG
Post a Comment