Meet the Teams
Unit Supervisor:
Sergeant David Smith
David.Smith@GwinnettCounty.com
Sergeant Smith is a 12-year veteran of the Gwinnett County Police Department. He has served in many areas of the department including South and West Precincts, Special Victims Unit, Robbery Unit, and the Homicide Unit. He has been supervising the Behavioral Health Unit since 2022.
Clinical Supervisor:
Pej Mahdavi
Pej Mahdavi is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker and cofounder of the Behavioral Health Unit. He obtained his master’s degree from the University of Southern California and served in a co-responder role with the Los Angeles Police Department prior to moving to Georgia. He also serves as the Director of Community Partnerships and Crisis Response.
West Precinct
Master Police Officer:
Michael Graffo
Michael.Graffo@GwinnettCounty.com
Master Police Officer Michael Graffo is a 6-year veteran of the Gwinnett County Police Department. He's worked most of his career serving residents in the West Precinct and is active on the Search Team and Civil Emergency Team.
Licensed Clinical Social Worker:
Raquel Moore
Raquel Moore is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker who studied at Indiana University and Purdue University. Raquel has more than 40 years experience specializing in post-traumatic stress disorder, critical incident debriefing, and practice and policy procedures. Raquel served as the Director of Consumer Affairs for Veteran’s Affairs.
South Precinct
Master Police Officer:
Chance Carley
Chance.Carley@GwinnettCounty.com
Officer Carley is a 4-year veteran of Gwinnett Police and has spent most of his career at the South Precinct. Officer Carley joined the Behavioral Health Unit in March 2024.
Licensed Professional Counselor:
Renee Bryan
Renee is a Licensed Professional Counselor with a master's degree in Clinical Mental Health Counseling from Richmont Graduate University in Atlanta, GA. She also holds a master's degree in education from Mercer University in Atlanta, GA. Renee’s experiences include working with diverse populations, in both the public and private sector. She specializes in crisis intervention, anxiety, grief and integrative approaches to care.
North Precinct
Master Police Officer:
Mohamed Abdelhamid
Mohamed.Abdelhamid@GwinnettCounty.com
MPO Mohamed Abdelhamid is a 4-year veteran with the Gwinnett County Police Department and serves on the Civil Emergency Team and the Search Team. He is bilingual in Arabic.
Licensed Professional Counselor:
Evi-Luise Pover
Evi-Luise Pover is a Licensed Professional Counselor with a master’s degree from the New York Institute of Technology. She has served as the Clinical Director of a Metro Atlanta DUI Accountability Court and specializes in addiction counseling and working with children and adolescents.
East Precinct
Master Police Officer:
Byron Baldetty-Cordova
Byron.BaldettyCordova@GwinnettCounty.com
Master Police Officer Byron Baldetty-Cordova is a 5-year veteran of Gwinnett Police. Officer Baldetty-Cordova spent most of his career at the West Precinct before joining the Behavioral Health Unit in March 2024.
Licensed Professional Counselor:
Lisa Hightower
Lisa holds a Master’s Degree in Psychology. In addition to being a Licensed Professional Counselor, she has a Master Addiction Counseling certification, Anger Management certification, and Cognitive Behavioral Therapy certification. She specializes in couples therapy, depression, life coaching, bipolar disorder, anxiety, and individuals who want to be more secure in their thoughts and desire a true change in the way they approach and think about life.
Central Precinct
Master Police Officer:
Kyle Howse
MPO Kyle Howse has been with the Gwinnett Police for 5 years and is a veteran of the United States Army Rangers. He’s worked at the South and Central Precincts and currently services the Central Precinct with his clinician.
Licensed Clinical Social Worker:
Diane Dighiera
Diane Dighiera is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker with a master’s degree from California State University in Los Angeles. Diane was a co-responder with the Los Angeles Police Department prior to joining our team. She specializes in bilingual therapy (Spanish), dialectical behavior therapy, and cognitive behavior therapy.
Bay Creek Precinct
Master Police Officer:
Robert Prenkert
Robert.Prenkert@GwinnettCounty.com
MPO Robert Prenkert has worked for the Gwinnett Police Department for 10 years and is a United States Marine Corps veteran. MPO Prenkert has worked in the Central, East, and Bay Creek Precincts and currently services the Bay Creek Precinct with his Clinician.
Licensed Professional Counselor:
Melia Crawley
Melia Crawley is a Licensed Professional Counselor with a master’s degree from Liberty University and Mercer University. She has worked in a Metro-Atlanta Mental Health Court and Crisis Unit. She specializes in Eye Movement Desensitization Reprocessing and Marriage and Family Therapy.