Tim Jarrell has left his job as Mt. Airy’s town manager but he’s staying on as the town’s police chief through the first of next year. Until then, he’ll be pulling double duty in local law enforcement.
Jarrell will serve as Mt. Airy’s part-time police chief while simultaneously working full-time with the Habersham County Sheriff’s Office. He was sworn in to his new job as a county investigator on Tuesday.
The Mt. Airy native and career law enforcement officer has pulled this type of double duty before. While still police chief in Toccoa, Jarrell served as Mt. Airy’s interim chief before taking over the job full time five years ago.
“I have thoroughly enjoyed my time working in my hometown and, hopefully, improving their financial well-being while I was there,” Jarrell says. “I think we have made a great stride and progress in the community. Everything has a season. My season’s come, and I think I’ve left it in very capable hands.”
Jarrell says he entered into his decision to leave with a lot of prayer. “It fell together. I didn’t go looking, it just kind of occurred.” That and, he explains, “I was tired.”
“I had multiple responsibilities dealing with water, city managing, police chief: It was a lot being on call 24/7.”
Back to his roots
While his new job with the sheriff’s office gives him more control over his schedule, it also takes him back to his roots.
Chief Jarrell was a criminal investigator with the Stephens County Sheriff’s Office early in his career and he’s known Habersham County Sheriff Joey Terrell “since we were kids.” Jarrell also previously worked with Habersham County Chief Deputy Murray Kogod.
“I was police chief when Murray was chief deputy in Stephens County and I also worked with Murray when he was with the drug task force [Mountain Judicial Circuit Narcotics Criminal Investigation and Suppression Team],” Jarrell says.
While managing as a full-time detective and part-time police chief may not sound much like slowing down, it’s only expected to be for a short time. Jarrell’s last day on the force in Mt. Airy is scheduled for January 2, 2023. Until then, he’ll be working days at the sheriff’s office and will be available evenings and weekends for policing in his hometown.
“I worked it out with the sheriff and he said, as needed, I could help them until they transition to a new chief.”
As for his return to investigating, Jarrell says he’s looking forward to making a positive difference in people’s lives. “I look forward to doing a job that, hopefully, will bring some sort of satisfaction to people who are victims of crime and to help them in their healing processes.” He adds, “I don’t see that I’m leaving it [Mt. Airy] in my rearview. I’m still here to serve the citizens of Mt. Airy even with my job in the sheriff’s office.”
Mt. Airy Mayor Ray McAllister is serving as interim town manager until a successor is named.
