The Clarke County Board of Education approved the appointment of Jeffery Johnson as the new chief of police for the Clarke County School District at its monthly meeting Thursday night.
He was approved by a vote of six to zero with one abstain.
Johnson will replace Chief Terry Reid who is retiring at the end of 2026 after serving as police chief since 2022.
An Athens native, Johnson began working with the Clarke County Sheriff’s Office in 2002 before serving in multiple roles with the Athens-Clarke County Police Department for 23 years. He received his bachelor's degree in sociology from Piedmont College before earning his masters in Public Safety Administration from Columbus State University. Johnson is also a U.S. Army veteran.
In a statement, Johnson said it's special to hold this position.
“After dedicating more than two decades of my law enforcement career to serving this community, I consider it both a privilege and a tremendous responsibility to continue that service by helping protect our students, faculty, and staff,” Johnson said.
Johnson’s appointment begins December 7.
