Georgia POST Director Mike Ayers Named Outstanding Police Chief of the Year
SAVANNAH – The Georgia Association of Chiefs of Police (GACP) has named Georgia Peace Officer Standards and Training (POST) Director Mike Ayers as this year’s GACP Outstanding Police Chief of the Year. Director Ayers was selected as the 202 recipient for his proactive contributions to the Peace Officers Standards and Training Council, GACP, and the state’s law enforcement community. Director Ayers was presented with the award Tuesday afternoon, July 23, 2024, at GACP’s training conference in Savannah.
With more than 35 years of experience, this year’s recipient of the “GACP Outstanding Chief/Louis M. Dekmar Chief of the Year Award” began his career with the Hartwell Police Department in 1989. In 1990 he was hired as a Special Agent with the Georgia Bureau of Investigation where he has rose to the rank of Special Agent in Charge before being appointed as the Executive Director of the Georgia Peace Officer Standards and Training (POST) Council by Governor Brian P. Kemp in 2019.
Executive Director Ayers has been the most effective POST Director to have served the State of Georgia. Since his appointment, Executive Director Ayers has tirelessly worked to improve the investigation of officer misconduct, enhance police candidate screening processes, expand training requirements, as well as increased certification standards. His leadership will have a positive impact on the citizens of Georgia for decades to come.
Director Mike Ayers holds a bachelor’s degree from the University of Georgia and a Master of Public Administration from Columbus State University. He is also a graduate of the FBI National Academy (236th Session), Georgia Law Enforcement Command College, the Georgia-International Law Enforcement Exchange (GILEE) 29th Delegation. Director Ayers also served as the president of the International Association of Directors of Law Enforcement Standards and Training (IADLEST), the leading organization on establishing law enforcement standards and training programs across the nation (2023 – 2024).
