City of Canton Announces Assistant City Manager, Staff Promotions

 The City of Canton announced recent staff promotions including the creation of a new assistant city manager position this week. Mr. Nathan Ingram will transition from the Chief Financial Officer for the City of Canton to the new Assistant City Manager position effective February 26. The new assistant city manager position will oversee the operational components of the City of Canton, including finance, human resources, technology, municipal court operations, and special projects. Ms. Melissa Forrester received a promotion from Accounting Services Manager to Finance Director.

The City of Canton operates an annual budget of $53 million. Additionally, in the Canton Police Department, Captain Wendell Turner received a promotion to Deputy Chief of Police following the promotion of Stephen Merrifield from that position to Chief of Police in January.

“We have a fantastic team at the City of Canton, and it is always an honor to promote from within when there are such highly skilled individuals in our organization,” stated City Manager Billy Peppers. “The Mayor and Council have been supportive of our organizational changes and we certainly look forward to continuing to serve our community in an

efficient and effective manner.”

Mr. Nathan Ingram

Assistant City Manager Nathan Ingram

Nathan Ingram has served as the Chief Financial Officer for the City of Canton for the past 8 years. He joined the team following a decade of service as an auditor for a private CPA firm, which included extensive auditing work of local government finances. Mr. Ingram graduated from North Georgia College and holds a license as a certified public accountant.

Finance Director Melissa Forrester

Ms. Melissa Forrester

Melissa Forrester joined the City of Canton over 11 years ago, serving in the positions of accountant, budget analyst and most recently as accounting services manager. She holds a degree in accounting from Kennesaw State University and a master’s in business administration from Reinhardt University. Ms. Forrester also holds a license as a certified public accountant.

Deputy Chief Wendell Turner

Deputy Chief Wendell Turner

Deputy Chief of Police Wendell Turner has over 27 years of law enforcement experience to include almost six years as the Director of Public Safety for the City of Statesboro, where he managed Police, Fire, and 911. Turner joined the Canton Police Department four years ago as a Captain over the Support Services Bureau. He has a Bachelor's degree from Georgia Southern University and a Master's in Public Safety Administration from Columbus State. He is also a graduate of the Federal Bureau of Investigation National Academy.

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Press inquiries to City of Canton Billy Peppers, City Manager billy.peppers@cantonga.gov 770-704-1500

Canton Police Announce Promotion

Chief Merrifield announced the promotion of Wendell Turner to the position of Deputy Chief.   Turner previously held the position of Captain over the Support Bureau and has been with the department for the past four years.

"I am extremely fortunate to have Deputy Chief Turner assist me in managing this great department," Chief Merrifield said. "I look forward to working with him to keep the Canton Police Department moving forward and providing professional and exemplary  police services to our citizens."

Turner, a twenty (27) year law enforcement veteran, began his career with the Statesboro Police Department in 1993 as a uniformed patrol officer.  He was quickly promoted through the ranks attaining positions in the Patrol Bureau as an Advanced Patrol Officer, Investigative Bureau as Detective, Professional Standards and Training Division Commander as Lieutenant, Support Services Division Commander as Lieutenant and later Captain, and Patrol Bureau Commander as Captain.


Wendell Turner also progressed in a tactical capacity as an Emergency Response Team (ERT) member, ERT Team Leader, and ERT Team Commander.  In 2010, he was appointed by the Statesboro City Manager to the newly created position of Director of Public Safety.  The position is the Department Head for the Police and Fire Departments and his overall responsibilities included the administration, operations, personnel management, fiscal preparations and responsibilities of each department.


Mr. Turner holds several Georgia Peace Officer Standards and Training Council (POST) Certifications to include:  Basic LE Certification, Senior Training Instructor Certification, Managerial Certification, and Executive Certification.  He has been an adjunct instructor for Ogeechee Technical College and the Southeast Georgia Regional Police Academy. He has also taught upper-level Justice Studies classes at Georgia Southern University as a part-time faculty member.


Wendell Turner has over 3,400 hours of Advanced Law Enforcement training to his credit and also holds several current and past professional memberships and board appointments.


In addition, Wendell Turner has been recognized for several professional achievements throughout his career to include: Departmental Accommodations, Several Departmental Top Gun Awards, Supervisor of the Year, FBINA Fitness Excellence Award and a prestigious FBI Appreciation Certificate awarded by former FBI Director Mueller.


Furthermore, he considers himself extremely fortunate having graduated the 213th Session of the FBI National Academy Program in Quantico, VA, the 23rd Georgia Association of Chiefs of Police Command College and the Georgia Association of Chiefs of Police Professional Management Program. He obtained his BS Degree in Criminal Justice from Georgia Southern University (2004) and his MPA Degree in Public Administration from Columbus State University (2006).