City Set For 2025; Police Chief Sworn In, Mayor, Vice Mayor Selected

With all the Is dotted and all the Ts crossed, Bruce Carlisle is now officially Toccoa’s newest Police Chief. 

City Manager Fredda Wheeler introduced the agenda item.

Commissioner Terry Carter made the motion to confirm the appointment, and commended Carlisle on the support from the department and community. 

In front of a crowded City Commission meeting room on Monday, Dec. 9, City Commissioners unanimously confirmed the selection of Carlisle to take the helm of the city’s police department. Carlisle was then sworn in by Toccoa Mayor Gail Fry. 

In addition to Carlisle’s family, there was a large presence of law enforcement officials, including a number of Toccoa’s police officers as well as State law enforcement officers, there to show support for Carlisle. City Manager Fredda Wheeler also noted that Stephens County Sheriff Elect Rusty Fulbright had called city officials to express his support for the selection of Carlisle, and to explain his absence from the swearing in, as he is currently attending training for the role which he will assume in January. 

As previously reported by WNEG News, Carlisle, who has served as the Stephens County Election Supervisor since December 2022, has several decades of law enforcement experience in Georgia and Florida, including a 22-year stint with the Lavonia Police Department – 14 as Lavonia Chief of Police. Carlisle was selected for the position out of a pool of 18 applicants after the resignation of former Toccoa Chief of Police Jimmy Mize in September. 

WNEG News spoke with Carlisle following the meeting, and he said he is ready to hit the ground running on his first day, which will be tomorrow, Dec. 11. 

He talked about his open door policy that he will abide by

He also expressed appreciation for the support shown at yesterday’s meeting.

He said that although it is a little early to talk about specific initiatives he plans to implement in the department, he did make one pledge about accomplishments to expect at the Police Department. 

Also at Monday’s commission meeting, Vice Mayor Terry Carter was selected as Mayor for 2025, while Commissioner Evan Helenga was named Vice Mayor for the coming year. Under the City of Toccoa Charter, each calendar year, “the commission shall elect one of the commissioners as mayor of the City of Toccoa. The commissioner so elected shall continue to hold the title of mayor for one year thereafter … The mayor shall have no more authority than any of the other commissioners, except that he shall act as chairman at all meetings of the commission, shall, upon approval by the commission, sign the minutes of such meetings, shall act as mayor of said city on all ceremonial occasions…” The commission, in a similar fashion, annually selects a Vice Chair from its membership. 

Carter, in speaking with WNEG News following the meeting, stressed the ceremonial aspect of the role, but expressed appreciation for the commission’s trust and support in nominating him for the role, and said the city budget is always a top concern and priority each year, and in the coming year, Water Department projects will be an important endeavor. 

Carter will assume the Mayor position from current mayor Gail Fry at the beginning of the year. Carter similarly took over as Mayor in 2020 after Fry served as Mayor in 2019, and Hellenga served as Vice Mayor in 2020 alongside Carter. Hellenga served as Toccoa’s Mayor in 2021. Carter also served as Mayor in 2015, with Hellenga named Mayor in 2016.

Carter, who was initially elected to the commission in 2011, was the recipient of the 2017 American Public Works Association Georgia Chapter Elected Official of the Year Award.

WNEG News will continue with our coverage of Monday’s Toccoa City Commission Meeting, later this week.