Chief Gaissert's Bio

John has thirty-five years of military, law enforcement and corporate experience. During his career, he has served with distinction in uniform patrol, special operations and criminal investigation units. During the 1996 Centennial Olympic Games, John performed the demanding task of Operations Officer for the Athens-Clarke County Police Department and authored the operational plan supporting the events. He has supervised numerous police functions including Uniform Patrol Watches, the Financial & White Collar Crime Unit and School Resource Officer Programs. He has served on the Board of Directors for Rape Crisis, Incorporated, and Peace Place Shelter for Women. He currently serves on the Law Enforcement Advisory Board for Lanier Technical College.

John is an ordained Minister of the Gospel and volunteers as a Police Chaplain. He is a state certified police instructor and teaches in the Georgia Regional Police Academies.

John also attained Level V certification in homeland security from the American College of Forensic Examiners. He serves as Department of Homeland Security Liaison for the Sheriff of Jackson County and chairs the county Threat Assessment Committee. John completed a law enforcement exchange program in counter-terrorism with the Israeli National Police and was awarded executive certification in counter-terrorism from ICT, the Lauder School of Government in Herzliya, Israel. He holds state executive police certification and currently serves as Chief of Police in Commerce, Georgia.

John was recalled to active duty during the Persian Gulf War and retired from the United States Navy as a Reserve Officer in the grade of Commander. He serves on the Jackson County Planning Commission and has a long history of community service. John holds a Bachelor?s Degree in Business from the University of Georgia and a Master?s Degree in Urban Administration from Georgia State University. He is married to the former Michele Wright of Lincolnton, Georgia. They have two sons: Ryan, age 25, and John Davis, age 8.    

Operations Division

Criminal Investigations Division

MISSION STATEMENT

The Commerce Police Department is committed to providing unsurpassed law enforcement and public safety services to all citizens and visitors in the Commerce jurisdiction. Our staff is committed to further enhancing the quality of life in the City of Commerce by the preservation of peace, the guarding of personal rights and liberties, and reduction of crime through the delivery of professional police services. The department's focus is on constantly improving services and professionalism through community policing and effective management. We are a progressive police department practicing twenty-first century law enforcement methods.

OPERATIONAL DATA

The Commerce Police Department is a full service law enforcement agency. Our staff consist of (1) Chief, (2) Captains, (3) Lieutenants, (3) Sergeants, (3) Corporals, (1) School Resource Officer, (1) K-9 Officer, (7) Patrol Officers, (2) Detectives, (4) Researve Officers, (1) Animal Control Officer, (1) Clerk of Court and (4.5) Administrative Clerks.

Several of our officers are state certified police instructors who teach at both the Northeast Georgia Police Academy and the Georgia Police Academy. We sponsor a Boy Scout Explorer Program, participate in numerous civic activities and plan to host  a Citizens Police Academy. We are a Community Oriented Police Department that prides itself on the formation of a close community partnership. The central purpose of the Commerce Police Department is to protect and serve you. Please visit our community soon and enjoy the family centered environment.