DILLARD, Ga. — The Dillard Police Department is a small agency with a full-time chief, one full-time patrol officer, several part-time patrol officers and a part-time clerk.
The mayor and City Council have been searching for a new police chief to replace former Chief Watts, who resigned before Christmas last year. The job was posted on the Georgia Municipal Association website and LinkedIn.
The city initially appointed full-time officer Michael Carnes as interim chief in the hope that he would pursue the permanent position. City Manager Gary Fesperman said, “Michael later resigned that position in good standing to take a patrol officer position with the City of Clayton, which offered better family insurance coverage and benefits package.”
Carnes remains employed by the City of Dillard as a part-time patrol officer. The council then appointed Jeff Harris as interim chief while continuing the search.
City officials recently provided an update on the hiring process, stating: “We have concluded our chief’s search, vetted the 24 applications received, made our decision, made an offer, and the applicant, Jeremy Welch, has accepted.”
Mayor James Dillard is expected to formally announce Welch as the new police chief at the regularly scheduled City Council meeting Tuesday, March 11. The department is actively searching for a full-time officer to fill the remaining vacant position.
The selected applicant, Jeremy Welch, appears to have previously served in law enforcement in Rabun County and was arrested in 2019 on driving under the influence and open container charges, according to numerous online sources.
When reached for comment and clarification, City Attorney Jay Doss said Welch had not previously served as Dillard’s police chief but had recently been the police chief in Mountain City. Law enforcement sources in Rabun County confirmed that the Mountain City police chief, Jeremy Welch, is the same Welch involved in the 2019 DUI arrest.
Georgia State Patrol reports from that incident indicate Welch became “uncooperative during field sobriety testing” and refused a blood-alcohol test. Online reports state Welch was initially suspended by the city before being replaced by interim Chief Jeremy Parker.
The City of Dillard’s decision comes only days after the Hall County sheriff was arrested on charges of driving under the influence and possession of an open container.
