Macon Chief Burns Off the Job Through Mid-March | News

Macon Police Chief Mike Burns will be off the job until mid-March after a medical procedure, according to a police news release.

The release did not describe the procedure, which was done last week.

"He appreciates the get-well wishes and support of friends, colleagues and the community," the police statement says.

His absence comes as the department awaits the result of a GBI investigation of a December fatal shooting by an officer.

Burns has been chief since 2004 and likely to be out of a job by the end of 2013. Bibb County Sheriff David Davis will be the county's top law enforcement officer when city-county consolidation happens next year. The chief's job will be eliminated.

Burns said he expects to look for chief jobs elsewhere rather than apply for a top deputy's job in Bibb.