Former Albany Deputy Police Chief Mark Scott named Americus police chief

AMERICUS — Former Albany Police Department Deputy Chief Mark Scott has been named chief of the Americus Police Department.

An announcement on the appointment was released Monday morning by the Americus city manager’s office. The appointment was first reported on albanyherald.com.

Contacted by The Albany Herald Monday morning, Scott confirmed that he’d been approached by the human resources department of the Americus Police Department shortly after his position was terminated with the restructuring of APD in late January.

“I’ve always seen this (becoming police chief) as the next step in my career path,” Scott said. “I guess with the situation in Albany, my timing got accelerated a bit. Other than the change in timetable, my experience in Albany was a very positive one. I feel like, under (former) Chief (John) Proctor, we made some positive changes. I hope Chief (Michael) Persley will continue to build on them; I believe he will.

“I look back now at my situation in Albany with the reorganization, and I see that it was probably for the best. My career probably needed a kick in the pants.”

The announcement from the city of Americus read: “The City Manager of Americus, Mr. Steve Kennedy, announced today that Mr. Mark A. Scott has been chosen to fill the position of Police Chief of the City of Americus Police Department. Mr. Scott was one of three finalists for the position, and comes to Americus with over 27 years of experience in the law enforcement field both in Albany and Thomasville, Georgia. Mr. Scott will be officially sworn in at the March 24, 2016 City Council meeting.”

He’s expected to assume his day-to-day duties with the Americus agency on March 28.

Scott, who began his law enforcement career as a patrol officer with the Thomasville Police Department in 1989 and advanced to the captain’s rank with TPD before coming to Albany in December 2009, said he is currently looking for a home and preparing to move to Americus.

“My wife and I went Saturday to look at some houses and to walk around downtown Americus,” he said. “It’s a really beautiful city with a vibrant downtown. It reminds me a lot of Thomasville. We’re tickled to death with this opportunity and are looking for a very positive experience in Americus.”

Despite the Albany Police Department reorganization that cost him and fellow Deputy Chief Nathaniel Clark their jobs following Persley’s ascension to the chief’s position, Scott said he’ll remember his six years in Albany fondly.

“I had great experiences here, met some wonderful people,” he said. “I’m happy with the time my family and I spent here, but now we’re focusing on our move to Americus.”

Brad McEwen contributed to this report.