There’s a new police chief in town.
John McIlvaine was sworn in as Madison’s new police chief by Mayor Fred Perriman during a city council meeting held Aug. 28.
McIlvaine served as a lieutenant with the City of Stockbridge Police Department until he became Madison’s police chief.
According to a press release issued by the City of Madison, McIlvaine’s hiring came after an extensive recruitment process conducted with the support of the Georgia Association of Chiefs of Police. A local community review panel that included Charles Haney, Earnestine Edwards, Celia Murray, Travis Freeman, Nelson Hale, Elizabeth Robinson, Bob Mackey, James Woodard, and Pat Hodgetts was also involved in the process.
“I really enjoyed being a part of the panel. The process was very eye-opening, as I learned how the city works as well as the police department,” said long-time Madison resident Elizabeth Robinson. “I think that more citizens should get involved with local government to better understand how it works here.”
Travis Freeman, a local middle school educator and coach, said participating in the process underscores the importance of varied perspectives in choosing a leader to share the organization’s future.
“I am grateful for the opportunity to serve on the diverse interview panel for selecting our next chief of police, as it allows me to contribute to a fair and important decision-making process,” Freeman said.
McIlvaine, the last of the original 18 candidates for the position, is a U.S. Army veteran and former staff sergeant who began his law enforcement career in 2006 with Athens-Clarke County.
McIlvaine holds a bachelor’s degree in criminal justice from the Northwestern University School of Police and Staff Command and has over 4,400 hours of advanced training in law enforcement, executive management, strategic planning, and critical incident management.
According to the press release, McIlvaine has held various key positions throughout his career, including police officer, senior police officer, domestic violence detective, sergeant, and lieutenant.
“I am deeply honored and humbled to serve as the next chief of police for the City of Madison,” McIlvaine said. “My goal is to foster a strong partnership with the citizens of Madison, ensuring that together, we build a safe, supportive, and vibrant environment for everyone. I look forward to working hand in hand with our dedicated officers and the community to achieve this shared vision.”
McIlvaine and his wife, Carey-Lynn, are the proud parents of five children and are actively involved in their local church. They look forward to joining the Madison community and contributing to its safety and well-being.
“I am excited a new chief of police has been selected,” Interim Police Chief Roy Whitehead said. “Being the interim chief has been extremely rewarding. The new chief will lead a department of dedicated, professional, and qualified men and women committed to serving the City of Madison.”
Councilman Eric Joyce credited City Manager John Klimm with the success of the hiring process.
“I just wanted to thank the gentleman who put together such a comprehensive and participatory process to achieve the wonderful news we got today, and that’s our city manager, Mr. John Klimm, who I think did a really fine job in bringing us Chief McIlvaine,” Joyce said.