written by: Spencer Crawford
Villa Rica Police Chief Michael Mansour has been a fixture in law enforcement circles in West Georgia for more than four decades, serving as Villa Rica’s police chief the last 20 years.
Surrounded by family, friends, police officers, and the mayor and council that hired him, Chief Mansour was recognized Tuesday night by the current mayor and council for his 20 years of service to the citizens of Villa Rica. His actual 20-year anniversary is October 24.
“I would like to thank former Mayor J. Collins and the city council at that time for giving me the opportunity to serve the citizens of Villa Rica,” Chief Mansour said. “I have had a lot of support during my time here, but I’m not done serving the community yet.”
Chief Mansour began his law enforcement career at the Floyd County Police Department, where he worked for about a year and a half before leaving to continue his education at West Georgia College. He was hired by the West Georgia College Department of Public Safety under a state grant specializing in the apprehension of drivers under the influence of alcohol and drugs. He made a record number of DUI arrests while serving in this capacity and in 1985 he became a Carrollton Police Officer.
At the Carrollton Police Department, Chief Mansour was promoted through the ranks to the rank of captain, serving along the way as the first D.A.R.E. officer to work in any school in Carroll County. He was the D.A.R.E. officer for 10 years, before being promoted to sergeant of the traffic division in 1991. In 2001, he became the captain of the Criminal Investigations Division, a role he held until he transferred to become captain of the patrol division in 2004.
When Chief Mansour became Villa Rica’s police chief, he brought with him a passion for community policing and concentrated his efforts on making the police department a professional organization. When he took over, the city’s police department was under a Department of Justice (DOJ) mandate due to past violations, and he made it his first priority to bring the agency out from under that dark cloud. Within a few years, the department was no longer under the DOJ mandate and became a Georgia certified law enforcement agency, a title it has now held for many years under Chief Mansour’s direction.
“I am proud of how far the Villa Rica Police Department has come since I’ve been here and I couldn’t have done it without the support of the mayors, city managers, council members and police officers I’ve worked with here over the years,” Chief Mansour said.
He teaches new police chiefs from around Georgia a class he created called “Do What Your Career Can Handle”, which helps new police chiefs understand the pitfalls they face in their new roles.
In 2021, Chief Mansour was selected as the Georgia. Police Chief of the Year by the Georgia Association of Chiefs of Police and was recognized by Governor Brian Kemp with a commendation.
Chief Mansour is married to Rebecca Lynn (Jones) Mansour and they have two children, Gabrielle (Gabby) Mansour and Nicholas Mansour.
“I couldn’t have accomplished anything I’ve accomplished without the love and support of my family,” Chief Mansour said.
While being recognized Tuesday night for his 20 years of service to the community, Chief Mansour announced he plans to retire October 24, 2027.
