Kemp Names GA's First Hispanic Insurance Commissioner

ATLANTA -- Governor Brian Kemp named Doraville Police Chief and Brigadier General John King on Wednesday to serve as Georgia’s insurance and safety fire commissioner. King is the first Hispanic insurance commissioner and statewide constitutional officer in Georgia history. King replaces Jim Beck, who was elected back in November 2018 but now faces more than 30 federal indictments of wire and mail fraud and money laundering.

King, a native of Mexico, started his law enforcement career in the Atlanta police department more than 30 years ago where he worked to undermine organized crime. He started at the Doraville Police Department in DeKalb County in 1993 and became chief of police nine years later.

King serves as a Brigadier General in the U.S. Army National Guard and director of the joint staff for the Georgia Department of Defense. He is the former commander of the 48th Infantry Brigade combat team and has deployed to Bosnia-Herzegovina, Iraq and Afghanistan. King has earned a Bronze Star Medal and Combat Infantry Badge, meritorious service medals, and a NATO award for his service in both Bosnia and Afghanistan. He also received the El Salvador gold medal for achievement in 2006.

Beck has suspended himself from office until his case's outcome. The 38-count indictment alleges that Beck stole more than $2,000,000 from his former employer, the Georgia Underwriting Association, during the five years just prior to Beck's election last November.

More:

• GA Insurance Commissioner Suspends Himself, Keeping $120K Salary
• Georgia Insurance Commissioner Indicted, Surrenders To Feds