Chief of Police

Stoney Mathis

Chief Stoney Mathis is an inspirational and transformational leader with 30 years in law enforcement and over 20 years with command-level experience. He is a devout champion of community policing and believes in building relationships and promoting public safety through establishing trust and transparency with the community.

Chief Mathis began his law enforcement career in 1993 with the Monroe Police Department in Monroe, Georgia. In 1995, he moved to the Henry County Police Department, where he started as a patrol officer and worked his way through the ranks. Chief Mathis was promoted to the rank of Captain in 2002 and tasked with running the Henry County Drug Task Force. In 2005, he was promoted to Major over the Uniform Patrol Division, and in 2010 Chief Mathis was appointed to the Deputy Chief of Police. In 2016 Chief Mathis was hired by the City of Chattahoochee Hills, Georgia and appointed Chief of Police, where he implemented several community policing initiatives. In 2018 Chief Mathis was appointed Chief of Police for the City of Fairburn, Georgia. During his tenure at the Fairburn Police Department from 2018 to 2022, Chief Mathis and his team reduced the crime rate by 52% even as the city saw steady growth.

Chief Mathis graduated from Cameron University in Lawton, Oklahoma, in 1992 with a bachelor’s degree in criminal justice. He is a 2004 graduate of the Drug Enforcement Administration (Drug Unit Commander Academy) in Quantico, Virginia; a 2007 graduate of the University of Louisville's Southern Police Institute class #118; and a 2009 graduate of the Senior Management Institute for Police (SMIP). In 2011, Chief Mathis received a master’s degree in public administration from Columbus State University when he completed a two-year command college program. Most recently, Chief Mathis is a 2017 graduate of the FBI Law Enforcement Executive Leadership Program and in 2020 he was elected by his peers as the 4th Vice President of the Georgia Association of Chiefs of Police.

Lt. Kelly Phillips

Chief of Staff

Chief of Staff Kelly Phillips began her career with the Columbus Police Department in 2013, following her service as a Chaplain in the U.S. Army Reserve. Today, she leverages more than a decade of diverse law enforcement experience to manage the day-to-day operations of the Chief’s Office.

Lieutenant Phillips has risen through the ranks of Patrol Services and distinguished herself in specialized investigative divisions, including Homicide and Robbery-Assault. Her leadership background is further strengthened by her time as a Sergeant in the Violent Crimes Unit and the Special Operations Tactical Squad. Beyond the field, she has played a critical role in departmental accountability, serving as an Internal Affairs Investigator and working on multiple accreditation teams.

She holds a Bachelor’s degree from Chaminade University and a Master of Divinity from Liberty Theological Seminary. A dedicated advocate for her fellow officers and the community, she serves on the State of Georgia Fraternal Order of Police Board and has led the Cops, Kids, and Christmas initiative for nearly a decade.

Stacey Hodges

Finance Manager

Stacey Hodges was hired on June 14, 1999 as an Administrative Specialist I with the Major Crimes Division of the Bureau of Investigative Services. On October 13, 2000, she was promoted to Administrative Specialist II with the Major’s Office of Investigative Services. On February 25, 2008, she was promoted to Asset Forfeiture Coordinator with the Special Operations Unit. On May 1, 2024, she was promoted to Finance Manager.

Budget Office

The Budget Office is responsible for the planning, preparation and administration of the Department's annual budget. Their other responsibilities include federal grant management, invoice administration, reimbursement claims, procurement of office supplies, and conducting internal audits. The Budget Officer and a Fiscal Technician provide these services.

Columbus Police Department