Wesley S. Hardin is the new director of the Department of Public Safety and chief of police at Georgia College & State University in Milledgeville.
Hardin attended last Tuesday night’s meeting of the Baldwin County Board of Commissioners, where he was introduced to a standing room only crowd at the county government complex in Milledgeville.
“Mr. Chairman and members of the board, and all of my new neighbors, thank y’all so much for having me here and thank you for the invite,” Hardin told Commission Chairman Johnny Westmoreland, other commissioners and local residents. “I am the new chief of police at Georgia College & State University. Not only am I excited to be there, but I’m excited to be here with you.”
Hardin has served in his dual role for about two months. He has nearly 30 years of law enforcement experience.
“The only thing I can tell you is that I’m still just as energized as I was when I was 23 and started,” Hardin said. “I know you may not believe that, but I am.”
The new GCSU police chief said he looks forward to working with the other law enforcement partners in the community, including the Milledgeville Police Department and the Baldwin County Sheriff’s Office to help maximize the resources and to provide for the betterment of the community, “because I believe we’re all one.”
Hardin recalled a quote from one of his grandfathers.
“A rise in tide raises all ships,” he said. “When one succeeds, we’ll all succeed. So, I’m looking forward to that, and I’m just happy to be here.”
Before coming to GCSU, Hardin served as chief of police at Tallahassee Community College in Florida, where he was responsible for the safety and welfare of 12,000 students across multiple properties and campuses in three counties.
During his law enforcement career, Hardin has served across a diverse array of assignments in local, county, and K-12 grade based law enforcement agencies in Georgia.
