MY LIFE... THE TRUTH
WHEN TELLING THE STORY OF YOUR LIFE, DON'T ALLOW ANYONE ELSE TO HOLD THE PEN.
I am a life long resident of Georgia having grown up in Powder Springs. I was raised by my grandmother who served a career as a bank teller. At the age of 14, I became a police explorer and started to really gain a passion for law enforcement. After becoming a teenage father at the age of 16, I realized that I needed to do something admirable with my life. At the age of 17, I enlisted into the United States Army Reserve before attending Basic Training at (then) Fort Benning, Georgia during the Summer of my junior year in high school. Upon graduation, I served for a short time before joining the Hiram Police Department as a civilian employee at the age of 18.
I continued working night shift for the city while attending the Georgia Northwestern Technical College Police Academy during the day earning my law enforcement certification with academic honors after having the highest graduating GPA in my class. After graduation, I was hired as a Police Officer with the City of Hiram Police Department at the age of 19. True story, True story, while serving with the City of Hiram, I responded to a 911 call where a citizen reported a teenager had stolen a police car.... they were referring to me. Needless to say, my coworkers never let me live that down.
As I grew both personally and professionally, It never came without great challenges. One defining moment for me was the loss of my brother (19) and uncle who were both shot and killed in Marietta, Georgia in recent years.
I ventured to other agencies and opportunities which eventually led me to Atlanta Metropolitan State College where I rose through the ranks, ultimately to the level of Chief of Police. This is where I began to dial in my professional portfolio as I obtained my
Bachelor of Science in Criminal Justice
Supervisory (120Hrs)
Managerial Certifications (120Hrs)
Executive Certification
FBI Law Enforcement Executive Development Association Certification (120 Hrs.)
Georgia Chief School
etc.
This also where I Joined the
National Association of Black Law Enforcement Executives
Georgia Association of Chief of Police
Alpha Psi Sigma National Criminal Justice Honor Society
100 Black Men of America
etc.
As the chapter of life turned its page, I found myself 16 hours across the county as a United States Federal Air Marshal. Although a life changing experience, the challenges of life continued to mold me into who I am today. Forged by fire, I have experienced homeless and having sleep in my car and I have experienced divorce and the challenges of coparenting effectively for the best interest of the children. These are the types of things that mold you into the man that it takes to be a decent law enforcement officer. Seeing people in their worst time, you have to have walked a mile in their shoes. With great authority comes great responsibility. I have accomplished many things, however, I learned the most from my lowest moments. Wisdom cannot be manufactured or purchased but only through endurance of the storm. You make it out to lend a hand to help someone else out and to be an example that the same God that did it for you is the Same God that can do it for them.