Assistant Chief Temperance Stoddard is a Georgia native and proud descendant of a long line of law enforcement leaders. She has over 12 years of experience in the field of Public Safety and over a decade of Investigative experience. Previously employed with the Cobb County Medical Examiner’s Office for over ten years, Stoddard rose through the ranks to hold the position of Forensic Investigator III, during which time she served as the primary trainer for all newly hired Forensic Investigators. She was also the first Forensic Investigator with the Cobb County Medical Examiner’s Office, and fourth in the state of Georgia, to earn the position of Board-Certified Fellow from the American Board of Medicolegal Death Investigators after completing over 4,000 hours of independent Investigations related to all causes and manners of death and successfully passing a Board Examination requiring proof of mastery in field of Medicolegal Death Investigation.

Temperance has been employed with the Fulton County District Attorney’s Office since June of 2021. Since that time, she has been assigned as an Investigator with the Crimes Against Children Unit within the Special Victims Division where she was able to utilize her years of experience investigating unique and complex criminal cases to aid in the prosecution of numerous heinous and violent crimes, to include homicides, against children. Temperance is also a Certified Forensic Interviewer in the state of Georgia, becoming the first in her unit to achieve this certification.

Temperance has a passion for Investigating all types of cases, specifically those related to Special Victims Crimes and strive to be a leader among her peers. She holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Criminal Justice from Columbia Southern University, where she graduated Magna Cum Laude, as well as a Master’s Degree in Criminal Justice Administration from Columbia Southern University. In addition, Temperance received the Top Academic Award of her graduating Georgia P.O.S.T. Law Enforcement Certification class. During her time with the Fulton County District Attorney’s Office, she has received multiple awards to include the 2022 Chief’s Award for leadership as well as the Terrell Williams Angel Award. In her spare time, Temperance enjoys spending time with her family and pets, hiking, and traveling.