Perry police chief nominated to serve as U.S. Marshal

PERRY, Ga. — This week, the White House released a statement announcing the nomination of U.S. Marshal nominees for the Northern, Middle and Southern districts of Georgia — and Perry Police Chief Steve Lynn was nominated to serve the Middle District.

“Obviously it’s a huge honor to be nominated,” Lynn said. “It’s one more step in the process; I have to be confirmed by the Senate then appointed. I’m very honored, very flattered and excited about the possibilities.”

The next step in this process involves the Senate Judiciary Committee reviewing these nominees and potentially pushing forward for confirmation. Appointment would follow at that point.

Lynn said the Marshal for the Middle District would work out of the courthouse in Macon, serving a span of area around Middle Georgia.

“There’s professional staff in place,” he said. “There’s 94 U.S Marshals in total, but there are a lot of Deputy Marshals. So it’s just like the agency head, like a chief or a sheriff. For the Middle District, there’s a Marshal over the 70 counties.”

He said that while this would be a different setting than he is currently accustomed to, his more than four decades of law enforcement experience would give him a solid foundation to succeed in the new role.

“This will be a new system for me because it’s federal, and my experience is state and local — and some time as a military police officer,” Lynn said. “So there will be similarities and differences, and it’ll be a new system to learn; so it’ll be an interesting process.”

He said the around 15-month process leading up to now has involved multiple interviews, lots of paperwork and a FBI background check among other forms of vetting.

He then reflected on his tenure with the Perry Police Department.

“It’s bittersweet for me because I’ve got a great job here being the chief in Perry; Perry’s a great city to work for, and I’ve got a wonderful group of officers that work really hard for the citizens and do a wonderful job,” he added. “So I certainly hate to move on from them; however, I’m sure that they will continue to do the same fine job that they do already for the citizens of Perry.

“It’s been a great experience the last nine-and-a-half years being the chief of Perry, and I’ve enjoyed it. It’s the best job I’ve ever had, and I look forward to continuous success for the City of Perry and the Perry Police Department.”

Lynn has served as Perry’s police chief since 2013. He served as an investigator for the Houston Judicial Circuit District Attorney’s Office from 2007 to 2013.

From 1981 to 2007, he served in the Warner Robins Police Department in multiple leadership positions including the Commander of the Criminal Investigation Division and Strategic Services. He received his M.P.A. from Georgia College & State University in 1996 and his B.S. from Georgia College in 1984.

According to the statement from the White House announcing the Marshal nominees, “these individuals were chosen for their devotion to enforcing the law, their professionalism, their experience and credentials in their fields, and their dedication to pursuing equal justice for all.”

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