When he was hired as a Cobb Police officer in 1990, Stuart VanHoozer said he never thought he would move up the ranks to chief.
It wasn’t something a young man without a military or higher education background ever thought about, living in a basement in Mableton as he took on his first assignment as an officer on a beat, making $5.25 an hour.
“From there I fell in love with this job,” VanHoozer said Tuesday as he was introduced as the new Cobb Police Chief.
After a varied 32-year career in which he served as a patrol officer, heading up narcotics and internal affairs units, a commander at three precincts and most recently, as a deputy chief and interim co-chief, VanHoozer’s appointment was approved in a 5-0 vote of the Cobb Board of Commissioners.
He succeeds Tim Cox, who retired at the end of 2021.
“I came from pretty much nothing,” VanHoozer said in a press conference after the meeting. “All you have to do is be willing to do something great for your community.”
VanHoozer was one of four candidates formally interviewed from an initial applicant pool of 50, and his name was on a final list of three submitted to Cobb commissioners.
County Manager Jackie McMorris recommended him as the sole finalist.
VanHoozer said he was “humbled, but burdened” by his new role, and pledged that “nobody will work harder.”
VanHoozer and his fellow deputy chief Scott Hamilton have been juggling co-interim chief duties since January.
Since 2018, VanHoozer has been a deputy chief, in charge of implementing technology such as facial recognition and license-plate readers.
But intangible qualities were referenced by county leaders who spoke at the introduction.
“One of the things that captivated us was just his general empathy for everyone,” said Cobb Commission Chairwoman Lisa Cupid, who referenced her relationship with him when she represented District 4 in South Cobb.
“He cares about those he serves with and the badge that he wears.”
During heartfelt remarks after his introduction, VanHoozer talked about regular visits he would make to a child care center in South Cobb during his time as the Precinct 2 commander.
The child care center, located across the street from a shopping center known for criminal activity, especially drug-dealing, had been struck by stray bullets.
VanHoozer said he would hug some of the students and look at the bullet holes.
“All I could think about [when] I was commander of that precinct was that nothing can happen to those children while I am here,” he said.
VanHoozer touted his officers, who do what they do “without a whole lot of recognition in most areas,” noting activities behind the scenes, such as buying bicycles for kids and presenting Christmas gifts to children in need.
He also commended community leaders, including some from Austell who recognized police and law enforcement officers earlier in Tuesday’s meeting.
“We need help,” VanHoozer said, referring to open positions for officers. “We want people who are willing to bring their brains and minds together to make Cobb County safer, and to make Cobb County better.”
You can watch the full introductory press conference below.
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