"Chief Ferrell has given our officers and the department the tools needed to continue to provide our citizens with the highest level of police professionalism. We will miss his leadership but know that he will find great success in his upcoming opportunity.”

While at the MPD, Ferrell has served in roles in the police department's investigative, uniform patrol and support services divisions. He has also been a part of special assignments in the Marietta-Cobb-Smyrna Narcotics Task Force and has served as commander of Marietta SWAT.

Ferrell graduated from Columbia Southern University with degrees in criminal justice and is a FBI National Academy graduate, city officials said.

Other accolades include graduating from the Police Executive Research Forum’s Senior Management Institute for Police and completing the Local Government Management Program through the University of Georgia’s Carl Vinson Institute of Government.

“When I started my career in 1990, my goal as a patrol officer was to put bad guys in jail and to help people in the community. I’ve been fortunate to do both, and so much more as I’ve moved through the ranks from patrol officer to chief of police," Ferrell said in the release.

"I’ve achieved all my professional goals at (the) Marietta Police Department with the privilege of serving as chief since February 2022. Words cannot express my appreciation for this city and the citizens I have had the honor of serving nor can I fully explain how deeply I care about the men and women of (the) Marietta Police Department. I’m looking forward to the next chapter of life with a new opportunity in the private sector and will always be grateful for the time I have had with Marietta Police Department.”