23 LC 126 0138
S. R. 180
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Senate Resolution 180
By: Senators Albers of the 56th, Hufstetler of the 52nd, Robertson of the 29th, Williams of
the 25th, Hodges of the 3rd and others
A RESOLUTION
Commending and congratulating Rome Police Chief Denise Downer-McKinney as Georgia's
1
2022-2023 Outstanding Police Chief of the Year; and for other purposes.2
WHEREAS, Rome Police Chief Denise Downer-McKinney is highly regarded by the3
citizens of her community and state and by local government officials as a person of4
unquestioned integrity, humility, and dedication to the sound principles of law enforcement;5
and6
WHEREAS, she began her career in 1981 with the Rome Police Department, where she rose7
through the ranks of captain in 1991 and major in 2010. In 2016, she was appointed as the8
Rome police chief; and9
WHEREAS, Chief Downer-McKinney earned a Bachelor of Arts from the University of10
Cincinnati and Master of Public Administration from Columbus State University; and11
WHEREAS, Chief Downer-McKinney has graduated from many advanced law enforcement12
leadership programs, including the FBI National Academy, Georgia Law Enforcement13
Executive Development Seminar (LEEDS), Southeastern Law Enforcement Executive14 23 LC 126 0138
S. R. 180
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Development Seminar, Georgia Law Enforcement Command College, and the Georgia
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International Law Enforcement Exchange (GILEE) program; and16
WHEREAS, she has served as chief of police for the City of Rome Police Department, a full17
service and revered law enforcement agency, for the last six years; and18
WHEREAS, Chief Downer-McKinney has served on numerous boards and advisory19
committees, including the State of Georgia Criminal Justice Coordinating Council, Floyd20
Hospital Executive Board, and the Rome/Floyd Chamber of Commerce; and21
WHEREAS, Chief Downer-McKinney made history when she was named as the first22
African American chief of police for the City of Rome; and23
WHEREAS, in 2022, Chief Downer-McKinney was the first female police chief to be named24
as the Outstanding Georgia Police Chief of the Year by the Georgia Association of Chiefs25
of Police; and26
WHEREAS, Chief Downer-McKinney has been united in love and marriage to her husband,27
Archie, for more than 30 years, and the two have been blessed with three children; and28
WHEREAS, it is abundantly fitting and proper that the members of this body show their29
gratitude for the unique and often unheralded contributions of Chief Downer-McKinney and30
all local law enforcement officers on behalf of the citizens of this state.31
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE SENATE that the members of this body32
commend the care, courage, and selfless dedication exhibited by Rome Police Chief Denise33 23 LC 126 0138
S. R. 180
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Downer-McKinney in carrying out the difficult duties of her vocation and congratulate her
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upon her recognition as Georgia's 2022-2023 Outstanding Police Chief of the Year.35
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Secretary of the Senate is authorized and directed36
to make an appropriate copy of this resolution available for distribution to Rome Police Chief37
Denise Downer-McKinney.38