HINESVILLE, Ga. (Jan. 8, 2021) – Today, City Manager Kenneth Howard announced the appointment of Lloyd Slater to serve as the new Chief of Police for the City of Hinesville. Slater, who was selected to serve as the Acting Police Chief earlier this month, has 34 years of professional experience in municipal police work, including 29 years of supervisory experience with the Hinesville Police Department (HPD).
Slater’s appointment, which is effective immediately, makes history as Slater is the first African American to hold the post of Hinesville’s Police Chief. “Chief Slater has deep roots in our community and has all of the skills necessary to successfully lead HPD in its ongoing efforts to make our city safer,” Howard said. “I have confidence that Chief Slater will lead our police force with a high level of integrity and ethics.” Originally from Brooklyn, N.Y., Slater enlisted in the United States Army following his graduation from high school. He was assigned to one of America’s most elite military units, the 1st Ranger Battalion.
After completing his final assignment in Europe, Slater returned to the U.S. and Georgia’s warm climate, where he has spent his life living, working and raising a family in Hinesville. Since joining HPD in 1986, Slater has risen through the ranks from patrolman to Chief of Police. During his tenure with HPD, Slater earned a bachelor’s degree in business management from Western Governors University and a master’s degree in public safety administration from Columbus State University. Slater also became one of few executives in this region to graduate from the Georgia Law Enforcement Command College.
“I’m humbled by the opportunity to serve you in this role; I take my obligation very seriously to do all I can to make Hinesville a safe and thriving place to live. Fortunately, I have a great team backing me up, full of dedicated professionals who are committed to serving our citizens by fostering proactive, positive community relationships,” said Slater. As the new Chief of Police for HPD, Slater will direct a staff of approximately 100 employees and maintain responsibility of providing professional law enforcement services to all citizens of Hinesville. The City will host an official swearing-in ceremony for the new Police Chief at a later date.
(Photo provided by the City of Hinesville)