Watkinsville hires Courtney Gale, the top cop in Thomson, as new police chief
Twenty-five years ago Courtney Gale pinned a police badge on a blue uniform and became a police officer.
Her career has taken many paths within the ranks of law enforcement, as she eventually became a police chief. Earlier this week, the city of Watkinsville announced that Gale has been hired as chief of its police force.
She has long had a goal of becoming a police chief, a role that was realized in June 2021 when she was hired as chief of the Thomson Police Department in McDuffie County. But Oconee County has long been her home and now the commute to work will become just a few miles.
City officials said recently that Gale is expected to assume the chief's job on Jan . 8.
The job came open when former Chief Shannon Brock announced his resignation in May due to medical conditions. Todd Tetterton, a major in the department with three decades of law enforcement experience, became interim chief as the city looked for a new lead commander.
Gale said Thursday that she wasn't expecting the Watkinsville job to open, but became interested the moment it became available.
"I'm so excited, it's hard to capture in words," she said about being offered the job.
Gale goes to church in Oconee County. She lives in the county. And she is aware of Watkinsville's fast growth.
"I see the growth," she said. "I think (city officials) are doing all they can in the planning side to prepare for it."
Gale said there were no problems in Thomson and she described leaving the city as "bittersweet."
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"It's going to be hard because there are a lot of really good officers here. It's not uncommon for us, because of personnel shortages, for an officer to work 18-hour shifts."
She also became impressed with how the law enforcement agencies in McDuffie County work together.
"We had a murder a couple of weeks ago and we had the Georgia State Patrol helping, the GBI, the sheriff's office. Everybody was in. I think it will be the same in Watkinsville," she said.
Before she took the job in Thomson, Gales worked with the University of Georgia Police Department from 2017 to 2021 and the Athens-Clarke County Police Department, from 1998 to 2017.
In making the announcement, the city of Watkinsville emphasized Gale's experience in various roles in police work including patrol, investigations, downtown operations, her various supervision ranks and experience in crisis negotiations.
“The council and I look forward to welcoming Chief Gale to Watkinsville and working with her to continue to ensure our residents, visitors, and businesses are able to thrive in a safe community," Watkinsville Mayor Brian Brodrick said in a prepared statement.
Gale has bachelor's and master’s degrees from the University of Georgia.
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While Gale worked for Athens-Clarke police, many in the area remember when she was attacked in 2007 while working off-duty security at the Kroger on Alps Road. She was stabbed repeatedly by a man exhibiting bizarre behavior.
Gale was critically wounded and the injuries placed her in a coma and required a respirator to keep her alive. After recovering, she returned to the department in 2012.
Gale is also a founder of the nonprofit Georgia Association of Women in Public Safety and in 2017 was named Officer of the Year by the Rotary Club of Athens.
This article originally appeared on Athens Banner-Herald: Courtney Gale leaves Thomson post to become new chief in Watkinsville
