Barrett is named Helen’s first female chief of police

The City of Helen has announced the appointment of Aletha Barrett as the next Chief of Police.

Chief Barrett was selected after a two-month search for the city’s next head of law enforcement.

Chief Barrett began with the Helen Police Department in December 2019 and held the rank of Sergeant. She brings over 20 years of law enforcement experience to the position with extensive knowledge in criminal investigation.

She served as the Deputy Chief of Police for the Cumming Police Department as well as Chief Deputy for the Forsyth County Coroner’s Office. Chief Barrett began her law enforcement career with The Dawson County Sheriff’s Office in 1997, where she supervised Communications and E911 Operations.

Barrett was sworn in at a called Helen City Commission meeting on May 10. City Manager Jerry Elkins took time to say how happy members of the city are to have Barrett as chief. “I just want to tell you how happy we are that you are our new chief. This is sort of history, because in the history of Helen you are the first female police chief we have ever had. You know that we supported you through, I forgot how many resumes and out of all of those we knew that you could do us the best job. You are one of us and you live in our community and we are proud to have you,” said Elkins.