Deputy Chief Gary L. Harper began his career with the City of Atlanta in 1997 with the Atlanta Department of Corrections after serving as a Military Police Officer in the United States Army.  Deputy Chief Harper transitioned to the Police Department in 1999 when he began as a patrol officer in Zone 4.

He was appointed to the rank of Senior Patrol Officer in 2003 and moved to the Zone 4 Field Investigations Team.  Harper spent a short time as an guest instructor at the Atlanta Police Academy and was promoted to Sergeant in 2007.  He served a supervisor in Zone 5 and was transferred to the Gang Unit in 2008 and served there until his promotion to Lieutenant in 2011.

Harper was assigned to Zone 1 as a Watch Commander, Discretionary Unit Commander and Criminal Investigations Commander.

In 2014, he was transferred to the Special Operations Section as the Motor Unit Commander where he handled several large scale events and dignitary visits.  Harper was instrumental in planning for the Super Bowl, Olympic Marathon Trials, NBA All-Star Game, College Football Championship Game and World Series Championship events.

In 2020, he was transferred to the Strategic Response Section and continued planning for several major events in the City of Atlanta.

In 2021 he was appointed to the rank of Captain and eventually transferred to the Special Operations Section as the assistant commander.  Harper stayed in that assignment and was appointed to the rank of Major in 2022. He was the transferred as the Commander of the Strategic Response Section and served until the unit was transitioned.  Harper then served as the commander of the Special Operations Section until his appointment to Deputy Chief in 2024.

Deputy Chief Harper is currently enrolled at Walden University pursuing a Master’s Degree.