College Park Police Chief Connie Rogers Resigns Amid City Leadership Turmoil

COLLEGE PARK, Ga. — College Park Police Chief Connie Rogers, the city’s first Black woman chief, has resigned effective immediately, leaving residents and officials questioning the circumstances behind her departure.

Rogers made history in December 2022 when she was appointed to lead the department. She brought over 20 years of law enforcement and military experience, including roles with the Cobb County Sheriff’s Office, College Park Police Department, and as deputy chief in South Fulton. She holds a bachelor’s degree in social work from Alabama State University, two master’s degrees in criminal justice, and graduated from the North Central Georgia Law Enforcement Academy. Known as a community policing advocate, Rogers was active in national and state police leadership organizations, including IACP, GACP, and NOBLE.

The reason for Rogers’ resignation has not been publicly disclosed, sparking speculation about possible internal conflicts or pressures. Reports suggest that Rogers may have claimed she was forced out in an email to the mayor and city council, though city leaders have declined to comment.

In the backfrop is a lawsuit filed by Deputy Police Chief Sharis McCrary. The 22-year veteran of the department filed a federal discrimination lawsuit against College Park that alleges she was unfairly passed over for the chief position in 2022.

Rogers’ resignation comes amid a pattern of high turnover at City Hall, including multiple abrupt city manager firings. In recent years, former city managers Lindell Miller, Dr. Emmanuel Adediran, and Stanley Hawthorne were terminated, some receiving substantial severance payouts after short tenures.

James Walker, an attorney and frequent city council attendee, expressed concern over the repeated resignations. “In the cloak of darkness, we have a resignation from another city official, this time with the chief of police. People deserve to know. It’s funny because everybody who’s been forced to resign or has quit has been offered some kind of settlement, and you ask yourself if there’s smoke there. There’s a fire somewhere and there’s been an undercurrent of lack of transparency,” Walker said.

Residents and observers are calling for greater transparency from city leadership, emphasizing that repeated abrupt departures can erode trust in local government. As the interim chief takes over, many are watching to see whether the city will provide clarity on Rogers’ exit and the broader management instability.