After a brief tenure of under a year, Mike Register, Director of the Georgia Bureau of Investigation (GBI), is stepping down from his position. Register has accepted a role as public safety director for Cobb County in the Atlanta metropolitan area, a position Cobb County commissioners are expected to formally confirm on Tuesday.

Appointed by Governor Brian Kemp in August of the previous year, Register, a former police chief, headed the GBI and its workforce of nearly 1,000 employees. The agency plays a crucial role in assisting local law enforcement with investigations into serious crimes, including homicides. GBI agents are also involved in investigating almost all police-involved shootings, conducting autopsies, and managing the state’s crime laboratory.

Register expressed his gratitude for the opportunity to lead the GBI, acknowledging the dedication and competence of the agency's professionals. Governor Kemp, in turn, affirmed his commitment to the GBI's continued success and its importance in ensuring public safety and supporting local law enforcement throughout Georgia. Register will continue in his role as GBI director until July, with no immediate successor announced.

As Cobb County’s public safety director, Register will oversee a substantial team of 1,800 employees across police, fire, 911, and emergency management services, serving a population exceeding 760,000. This marks a return to the same position for Register, which he previously held in 2019 before resigning after four months, citing personal reasons requiring him to leave the state. His extensive experience also includes serving as police chief for both Cobb and Clayton counties, and as assistant chief of the Cobb County Sheriff's Office prior to his leadership of the GBI.