After being on the job only a few months, Mike Register is retiring as the Cobb public safety director.
His abrupt announcement was released by the county late Tuesday evening, citing “increasingly urgent family issues” that are prompting him to move out of Cobb. Register will stay on through Aug. 31.
Here’s the statement Register issued via the county:
“I was deeply honored to be Police Chief and Public Safety Director and appreciated the support of the Board and County Manager. I regret personal issues are tearing me away from this job, and I leave with a sense of accomplishment.”
“I will always treasure my time in Cobb County and I will always love this county and truly believe it is the greatest county in the state of Georgia with the greatest public safety employees in the state.”
Register was appointed public safety director in April by the Cobb Board of Commissioners after serving as police chief since 2017. The public safety director oversees police, fire, 911, emergency management and animal services in Cobb.
He was credited by some as being a morale-boosting force as county police officers and firefighters received seven-percent pay raises in the Cobb fiscal year 2020 budget that was adopted last month.
But less than three weeks later, commissioners will have to find a replacement.
While he was police chief Register emphasized community policing, forming a community affairs unit that included an officer in each of the five county precincts to informally meet with citizens at coffee shops and other venues. Register also held a series of public meetings with Cobb religious and community leaders.
Cobb County manager Rob Hosack issued the following statement:
“We understand that family comes first to Mike and are saddened that he will leave us. He did tremendous things in his short time in the position and we will be considering our options for the Public Safety post in the coming days.”
In June, Register spoke to the East Cobb Business Association, saying one of his objectives was to “make public safety cool again” as a career for young people.
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