Assistant Police Chief Stan Pye to retire Feb. 21

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Peachtree City Assistant Police Chief Stan Pye. Photo/Ben Nelms.
Peachtree City Assistant Police Chief Stan Pye. Photo/Ben Nelms.

It was 30 years ago that patrol Officer Stan Pye joined the Peachtree City Police Department. Now three decades later, Assistant Police Chief Pye will be retiring on Feb. 21.

“I’ve been very fortunate. I’ve had a good career,” Pye said, reflecting on his career in law enforcement that began in LaGrange in 1985, five years before joining the department in Peachtree City. “My goal was to leave as sergeant. Today, there are no other boxes to check, and the succession planning is done. I tried to leave the department in a better place than when I got here.”

Pye over the past 30 years held numerous ranks with the department, ranging from officer to captain to interim chief, and culminating three years ago in the rank of assistant chief. Pye’s remarkable story was detailed in June 2019 in The Citizen.

Through the years as he moved through the ranks and along with his other duties, Pye formed the Honor Guard, hosted the Citizens’ Police Academy, held tryouts for the first SWAT team and led the annual Light Up the Night toy drive.

“My kids grew up in the police department,” Pye said of his five children. “I think my kids and their friends thought my first name was ‘Captain.’ I was always here. This is all I’ve known during my adult life.”

“I’m ready at this point to go back to being ‘Stan.’ That’s who I want to be,” Pye said with a smile.

<b>Peachtree City Police Chief Janet Moon.</b>
Peachtree City Police Chief Janet Moon.

Commenting on Pye’s retirement, Chief Janet Moon said, “Stan has devoted his life to public service and has served the citizens of Peachtree City for the last 30 years. He was instrumental in the establishment of the Citizens Emergency Response Team (CERT), and the Light Up the Night Toy Drive. He has impacted many people throughout his career. His departure from the agency will leave a void but we wish him all the continued success as he embarks upon this next chapter of his life.”

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