Acworth selects former Cobb Prosecutor as new Police Chief

Former Cobb Assistant District Attorney Jesse Evans has been announced as the next chief of the Acworth Police Department. Evans will assume this important role following the retirement of Chief Wayne Dennard. Per the city, upon becoming certified, Evans will be sworn into the role later in the year.

During his tenure with the Cobb DA’s office, Evans, a skilled trial lawyer, handled a number of its most high-profile cases. As Deputy Chief Assistant District Attorney, Evans led the successful prosecution of Justin Ross Harris in the hot car death of Harris’ 22-month old son Cooper. Evans was also the lead prosecutor in the Ahmaud Arbery case but resigned from office prior to the case going to court. After 20 years of service, Evans departed Cobb in April 2021 to work with Paulding County as its Chief Assistant District Attorney.

In a news release, Mayor Tommy Allegood said “Jesse knows the criminal justice system and procedure better than anyone I know. His leadership skills and team-building experience will take the department that Chief Dennard has developed to the next level of community, inclusiveness, and professionalism.” 

On Evans’ hiring, City Manager James Albright said “It is because of the relationships and selfless love for this community that we enjoy as a team of leaders, that we were able to conclude that it would be in the city’s best interest to begin the process of appointing Acworth’s next Chief of Police well before Dennard’s departure. Realizing that we wanted to continue our upward trajectory of progressive leadership and at the same time bring in a leader who is close to and loves our community, an extraordinary person came to mind.”

Chief Dennard will remain with Acworth in a support role and oversee the transition until his retirement from the city in April 2023.