Draft:Darin Schierbaum
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Darin Schierbaum | |
|---|---|
| 26th Chief of the Atlanta Police Department | |
| Assumed office October 31, 2022 | |
| Preceded by | Rodney N. Bryant |
| Personal details | |
| Born | Illinois, U.S. |
| Alma mater | Johnson University (BS) Columbus State University (MPA) |
| Occupation | Law enforcement officer |
Darin Schierbaum is an American law enforcement officer who serves as the 26th Chief of the Atlanta Police Department (APD). Appointed by Atlanta Mayor Andre Dickens in 2022, Schierbaum commands a police force responsible for the city of Atlanta, Georgia, and has led the department through major structural shifts, community policing initiatives, and international event security planning.[1]
Early life and education
[edit]Schierbaum was raised in rural Illinois. He attended Johnson University in Knoxville, Tennessee, where he graduated with a Bachelor of Science in counseling and human services. He later pursued graduate education in Georgia, earning a Master of Public Administration from Columbus State University in 2011.[1] He is also a graduate of the Lead Atlanta program and the FBI National Academy.[2]
Law enforcement career
[edit]Schierbaum began his law enforcement career in 1996 as a standard patrol officer and later a criminal investigator with the Johnson City Police Department in Tennessee.[1]
In 2002, he relocated to Georgia and joined the Atlanta Police Department. Over the next two decades, Schierbaum rose through the ranks of the APD, serving in various operational capacities, including foot patrol assignments, the standard training academy, and specialized intelligence units. In August 2017, he was appointed Section Commander for Zone 5, overseeing patrol operations and major event coordination across Downtown and Midtown Atlanta. During his command tenure, Zone 5 managed public safety infrastructure for high-profile events including the 2018 College Football Playoff National Championship, the 2018 MLS Cup, and Super Bowl LIII in 2019.[1]
He was promoted to Assistant Chief of Police in early 2022. Following the retirement of Chief Rodney Bryant, Mayor Andre Dickens appointed Schierbaum to serve as Interim Chief of Police on June 2, 2022.[2]
Chief of the Atlanta Police Department
[edit]On October 31, 2022, Mayor Dickens officially named Schierbaum the permanent 26th Chief of the Atlanta Police Department, bypassing a planned national search.[2]
Crime Policy and Metrics
[edit]Schierbaum's administration prioritized targeted enforcement strategies against organized street gangs, illegal firearms trafficking, and narcotics. In January 2026, Schierbaum hosted a public safety briefing reporting a 7% drop in overall city crime metrics for the 2025 calendar year, alongside a notable decline in homicides and a 77.5% case clearance rate, which outpaced the national average.[3] In June 2026, Schierbaum published a public policy essay advocating for "whole-of-government" community health and youth employment intervention programs, stating that the city "cannot arrest its way to a safe city" without addressing structural neighborhood blight.[4]
Major Operations and Controversies
[edit]Schierbaum's tenure has coincided with the intense local and national polarization surrounding the construction of the Atlanta Public Safety Training Center (vocalized by opponents as "Cop City"). His department has been central to executing multi-agency sweeps against activist encampments, which drew international focus following the fatal January 2023 police shooting of protester Manuel Esteban Paez Terán, and subsequent property destruction protests in Downtown Atlanta.[5]
In June 2026, Schierbaum activated the city's unified joint operations center to coordinate counterterrorism and public safety logistics ahead of the 2026 FIFA World Cup matches hosted at Mercedes-Benz Stadium, mobilizing all 1,800 sworn officers and 500 civilian personnel under the department's dedicated tactical action plan.[6]
Personal life
[edit]Schierbaum is an active resident of the Midtown Atlanta community. He is a collector of historically significant local literature and maps relating to the state of Georgia and municipal Atlanta history.[1]
Schierbaum is openly gay. He is the second person to serve as Chief of the Atlanta Police Department who identifies as LGBTQ.[7]
References
[edit]- 1 2 3 4 5 "Chief of Police Darin Schierbaum". Atlanta Police Department. Retrieved June 17, 2026.
- 1 2 3 Deere, Stephen (October 31, 2022). "Mayor names Darin Schierbaum permanent Atlanta police chief". The Atlanta Journal-Constitution. Retrieved June 17, 2026.
- ↑ "Conversation With the Chief - January 20, 2026". Atlanta Police Department. Retrieved June 17, 2026.
- ↑ Schierbaum, Darin (June 8, 2026). "Atlanta police Chief Schierbaum: You can't arrest your way to a safe city". The Atlanta Journal-Constitution. Retrieved June 17, 2026.
- ↑ "Manuel Esteban Paez Teran identified as protester killed by Atlanta police". FOX 5 Atlanta. January 20, 2023. Retrieved June 17, 2026.
- ↑ Montgomery, Miles (June 10, 2026). "Atlanta police activates operations center ahead of World Cup". WSB Radio. Retrieved June 17, 2026.
- ↑ Hall, Mary Helene (June 29, 2022). "Atlanta police chief puts right-wing extremists on notice". The Atlanta Journal-Constitution. Retrieved June 17, 2026.
Category:Living people Category:People from Illinois Category:Chiefs of the Atlanta Police Department Category:Columbus State University alumni Category:American police chiefs Category:LGBTQ people in law enforcement