Conyers introduced its new public safety director at the Thursday State of the City address.

Ralph "Gene" Wilson, Jr. was chosen for the newly formed position, which will oversee the Conyers Police Department, court services, the 911 center and Conyers Security Alert.

Wilson, who will begin as public safety director on Jan. 25, was most recently at the Centers for Disease Control's Office of Safety and Emergency Preparedness with Lockheed Martin. Previously, he was chief of the Sandy Springs Police Department, served 16 years heading the MARTA Police Department, and served 18 years with the DeKalb County Department of Public Safety.

Wilson grew up in Tucker but is a resident of Conyers, where he and his wife raised their daughter. Wilson is a graduate of Georgia State University and the FBI National Academy.

Check back to www.rockdalenews.com for more details or see the Jan. 9 edition of the The Rockdale News.