Similarly to Mercer's announcement to promote Dr. Scott from interim Dean to permanent Dean of the CLAS, Mercer has recently named interim Chief of Police Lt. Gary Mills as the permanent pick.
Mills has worked with MerPo since 2016 and has been the administrative lieutenant since 2018. He will be the successor of former Police Chief Gary Collins. Mills will oversee both the Macon and Atlanta campus police.
According to the Den, Mills served in the Navy, then on the Georgia State Patrol (GSP) for 30 years prior to joining MerPo in 2016. While serving in the GSP, Mills was a training officer, and a sergeant first class. He trained state troopers in both the 76th and 96th divisions of state troopers. Prior to his time in the GSP, he was a sheriff's deputy in Baldwin county.
He graduated from Columbus State University's Law Enforcement Command College, and hold's an associate's degree from Georgia Military College.
Dr. James S. Netherton, executive vice president for administration and finance, said that Mills was selected despite a nationwide search for candidates to replace former Chief Collins.
“It’s an honor to be selected as the police chief at Mercer University,” Mills told the Den. “I’ve been part of the Mercer community for eight years, which has been an invaluable experience preparing me for this leadership role. I appreciate the support and confidence from President Underwood and his team moving forward.”
Henry Keating '24 is a Journalism and History student at Mercer. He has worked at The Cluster as SGA correspondent, State and Local News Editor, Managing Editor and now as the Editor-in-Chief. Henry has held internships at the Macon Newsroom, Macon Telegraph, and Greenville Post and Courier. He enjoys backpacking, rom-coms, pottery and photography.
