The Richmond Hill City Council voted 4-0 Tuesday night to hire Mitch Shores as its next chief of police.

Shores will replace Billy Reynolds, who was elected Bryan County probate judge. Reynolds has been with the department 33 years, 31 of them as chief.

“This was not a slam dunk,” Mayor Harold Fowler said after the meeting regarding the quality of the candidates who applied. “We had some very lengthy discussions and we believe based on his background that Mitch will do an excellent job.”

Shores, who has 24 years of law enforcement experience, currently works for the Savannah-Chatham Metropolitan Police Department as a sergeant. He has been a resident of Richmond Hill since 1991 when he got out of the Coast Guard. He has been married for 30 years and raised a son and daughter in Richmond Hill. He and his wife have seven grandchildren.

“This is a great honor for me,” Shores said by telephone Tuesday evening. “I love this town and the Richmond Hill Police Department has a great reputation.”

Shores was named “Supervisor of the Year” by the Savannah Area Exchange Club in 2005 and has worked as a field training officer, a police academy instructor and been a member of the SWAT Team at SCMPD. He also has worked with the Chatham County Narcotics Team and the U.S. Marshal Fugitive Team.

“I’ve been able to work in Bryan County on previous occasions and know several of the officers there,” he said. “I feel like I’m coming home.”

Fowler agreed.

“We think this will facilitate a smooth transition of leadership and we are very excited about having Mitch join the city of Richmond Hill leadership team.”

Shores was one of four finalists for the position. Two current RHPD members were among the four. An exact start date has not been set.