Milton Police on Friday formally welcomed three of their newest officers while celebrating promotions of three accomplished veterans.

Dozens attended the November 4 ceremony in the Milton Municipal Courtroom, which is in the same building as MPD headquarters. After a welcome from Chief Rich Austin and an invocation from Capt. Charles Barstow, Mayor Peyton Jamison began his remarks by praising the Milton Police as the best department anywhere.

“The [Milton Police] has a truly special connection to our community,” the Mayor said. “Our officers routinely go above and beyond.”  

Austin stepped back up to the podium, reflecting on policing and his department specifically. He gave way to Lt. Chris Ward, who read brief bios of the officers who have joined the Milton Police in the past year. They are:

• JACOB DEIS: A U.S. Marine -- including a 2014 tour in Afghanistan – before his honorable discharge, Deis landed his first law enforcement job in 2017 with the Fayetteville Police Department. He came to Milton in February 2022 from Jackson, Georgia. Over his career, Deis has prided himself on “humanizing the badge” to the public.

• JULIA ROSS: Ross earned a bachelor’s degree in Criminal Justice from the University of North Georgia, which is where she had her first exposure to the MPD as a 2021 summer intern. The vice president of her police academy class and frequent leader in physical training, Ross came to Milton in March 2022 and quickly distinguished herself – including being named “Officer of the Quarter for July-September 2022.

• SCOTT SANFORD: A native of Canton and graduate of Creekview High School, Sanford earned his bachelor’s in Criminal Justice from Anderson University in 2021. Prior to even graduating, in May 2020, Sanford began working at the Cherokee County Sheriff’s Office. He completed his Police Academy training in December 2021 and, several months later, joined the Milton Police Department’s Uniform Patrol Division.

Austin then formally swore in Deis, Ross and Sanford, who were subsequently “pinned” by one (each) of their loved ones. Daniel Shayder -- a veteran of the Peachtree City, Forest Park and Union City police departments before beginning a career with the U.S. State Department (including a stint at the U.S. Embassy in Kabul, Afghanistan -- also joined the Milton Police earlier this year, though he could not make it to Friday's ceremony.

Next came to the promotion part of the ceremony, recognizing several outstanding members of the Department as they ascend to more prominent roles. They are:

• IVO PEREIRA, promoted to Sergeant: Pereira first experience in law enforcement came in 2011, volunteering as a field translator (Portuguese and Spanish) for the Gwinnett County Police Department while working to earn an associates degree in Criminal Justice from Georgia Perimeter College. He joined Gwinnett County full-time after graduating from the Police Academy, first as a patrol officer, then as part of a Community Relation/Crime Suppression team and lastly as an investigator/detective in Special Victim’s Unit. Recommended by two Milton police sergeants, Pereira joined the MPD in August 2018 – having been a field training officer, mentor, and more as part of the Department.

• CHAD WEST, promoted to Sergeant: West’s policing career began in Alabama, where he served two years in the Madison Police Department after earning a bachelor’s degree in 2012 in Criminal Justice from the University of Alabama. He joined the Milton Police first as a patrol officer and, starting in 2017, as Community Outreach Officer. In that role, West oversaw community events as well as the recruitment and hiring of new officers. He is also lead advisory for the Milton Police Cadets program, a Georgia P.O.S.T. certified general instructor, a firearms and Taser instructor, and part of the North Fulton SWAT team.

• CHRISTOPHER BRADSHAW, promoted to Lieutenant: Bradshaw started at the Cherokee County jail before graduating from the police academy in 2009, working for that Sheriff Office out of its Hickory Flat precinct. He moved to the Milton Police two years later, working as a field training officer, training new recruits and (from 2013 to 2020) investigating crimes and training new detectives as part as the Criminal Investigations Division. Bradshaw is a decorated member of the MPD, having earned Officer of the Year honors in 2016; the Department’s “Marksmanship Award” in 2013, 2016 and 2019; and being nominated for the FBI Directors Award for outstanding criminal investigation.

Congratulations to all the officers recognized Friday -- the newer and not-so-new -- for your impressive work and commitment to the Milton community.