Dr. Anita Allen makes history as Mableton’s first Black woman police chief

Allen is making history as the first police chief of Mableton, Georgia, a city just west of Atlanta that’s preparing to launch its own police department.

The Mableton City Council unanimously approved Dr. Anita Allen’s appointment as the city’s police chief during a special meeting on Oct. 6, marking a significant step toward establishing its own police department.

Allen, who currently serves as police chief at Albany State University, brings more than 25 years of experience in law enforcement and public safety to the role, according to Black Enterprise.

As she prepares to lead the new department, Allen says building trust with residents will be just as important as recruiting officers.

“I want to bridge the gap, have community policing, have officers that can come out to the six districts to be able to have a relationship with our community, and so they can trust us, be heard, feel valued,” Allen said, according to Black Enterprise.

She also emphasized integrity, fairness, and respect as the standards she expects residents to experience when interacting with the new department.

Allen emphasized integrity, fairness and respect as guiding principles for the department. She also hopes to recruit officers who demonstrate professionalism, compassion and a commitment to serving the community.

The city plans to hire 70 sworn officers and 10 civilian employees as it prepares to transition away from law enforcement services currently provided by Cobb County.

According to city officials, more than 1,500 applications have been submitted since recruitment opened Oct. 1. The proposed compensation package includes starting salaries of $66,000 for academy recruits with a high school diploma or GED, with pay reaching up to $81,500 depending on education and experience. The salary structure is still subject to City Council approval.

Mableton’s agreement with Cobb County is scheduled to remain in place through June 1, 2027, when the city expects its own department to assume public safety operations.

Allen will work alongside Public Safety Director Kerry Stallings to oversee recruitment, training, and the development of department policies while the city works toward establishing a permanent headquarters.

Stallings described the appointment as a historic day for the department.