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Sandy Springs Police Chief Retires From Military

Chief Ken DeSimone retired on April 1 from the United States Marine Corps after 32 years of service.

Sandy Springs Police Chief has retired from the military.

Chief Ken DeSimone retired on April 1 from the United States Marine Corps after 32 years of service. DeSimone retired as the rank of colonel, and he served in both the armor and military police fields. 

The chief is both an Iraq and Afghanistan war veteran. In 2005, DeSimone served as the Multi-National Forces-West coordinator for the Ministry of Interior Department of Border Enforcement, Iraqi Border Police, in the Anbar and Najaf Provinces. 

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In 2011 he was the officer in charge of the Second Marine Division Provincial Police Advisor Team and advisor to the Helmand Province Afghanistan chief of police.

DeSimone has worked on the tactical and operational level with police and military forces in North America, Europe, Asia, Africa and the Middle East. 

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His last assignment was at the Marine Corps Base, Camp Lejeune, NC, Provost Marshal's Office, Base Security and Emergency Services. 

A ceremony to honor the chief will be held in June.

DeSimone has a bachelor's degree in police administration from the University of Louisville and has graduated from both the FBI National Academy and FBI Law Enforcement Executive Development Seminar. 

He received the FBI Director’s Award in 2003 for Outstanding Counterterrorism Investigation and the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Medal of Valor in 1999. DeSimone is also a graduate of the USMC Command and Staff College, USMC Amphibious Warfare School and numerous other police and military courses.


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