She admits she is shy and does not like being in the spotlight.

The city of Austell’s new police chief, Shameta Jones-Harrell, is just ready to get to work. But she couldn’t avoid the attention this week when she became the first female chief for any Cobb County police agency.

“I certainly didn’t think that I would be sitting here,” Jones-Harrell told The Atlanta Journal-Constitution. “Not this soon.”

Seated behind her executive desk Tuesday afternoon, 47-year-old Jones-Harrell explained her goals for the department she has run on an interim basis since March 3. In February, former Chief Scott Hamilton resigned after 2½ years on the job.

An hour later in a courtroom packed with her family, friends, local police chiefs, district attorneys and officers from various agencies, Jones-Harrel

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