December 31st, 2025, marked the end of an era for the Cartersville Police Department as Chief Frank McCann retired after 40 years of service. Chief McCann began his tenure with Cartersville in 1986 and quickly established himself as a leader amongst his peers. His hard work resulted in an invitation to join a recently established Task Force Officer program with the Drug Enforcement Administration in 1989. While at the DEA, Chief McCann was an integral part of some of the most significant cases in the Atlanta Field Division and the United States. Throughout his time with the Cartersville Police Department, Chief McCann’s pursuit of criminal justice excellence culminated in his appointment as Chief of Police in December 2015.
During his time as the Chief of Police, Chief McCann fostered personnel growth, greatly improved department’s access to new law enforcement technology, developed the agency into a training destination for law enforcement agencies throughout north Georgia, and spearheaded the effort that led to the Cartersville Police Department receiving international accreditation through the Commission on Accreditation for Law Enforcement Agencies (CALEA). This accomplishment is only held by 4% of law enforcement agencies nationwide.
Aside from the success that he brought to the City of Cartersville, Chief McCann is highly respected amongst law enforcement professionals nationwide. Whether they needed advice, assistance, or outside-the-box thinking, it became commonplace for law enforcement executives from all over the country to visit or call the Cartersville Police Department and seek Chief McCann’s guidance on a wide range of topics. This unparalleled respect led to extraordinary cooperation between Cartersville and local, state, and federal agencies to achieve the shared goal of a safe community.
