There is a new police chief in town. DeKalb County CEO Burrell Ellis announced his appointment of Cedric. L. Alexander as the new county Chief of Police.

“Dr. Alexander’s unique blend of leadership in law enforcement and academic training and practice in clinical psychology will be valuable in addressing DeKalb’s public safety priorities," said Ellis.

Alexander currently serves as the Federal Security Director for the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) at Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport. He started his career in 1977 and has a doctoral degree in psychology, a master’s degree in marriage and family therapy and a bachelor’s degree in sociology. He served in New York as Deputy Commissioner as well as with the police department in Miami-Dade. He also spent time as Chief of Police in Rochester, New York and held several leadership roles at the University of Rochester Department of Psychiatry.

“Public safety is a top priority for me,” Ellis said. “And at the end of the day, citizens look to their government to keep them safe. This arrangement reflects the importance of public safety in my administration.”

Ellis is in the processes of reconstructing the Public Safety Office and a new police chief was top priority.

Dr. Alexander will start April 1, 2013.

Ellis remarked, “I am very excited to have him in charge of protecting DeKalb’s citizens.”