I love being a police officer. I consider it a calling.
No one gets into policing for money or fame; it won’t make you a millionaire, and it could cost your life. Most police officers are drawn to policing because they have a natural desire to help others.
For many officers, this is something they have wanted to do since they were children. That is why it truly hurts my heart when I hear parents tell their children that if they’re not good, the police will come and get them and put them in jail. Obviously, that is not what we do, and we need to stop telling our children that. It does more harm than good.
Children need to be able to trust the adults in their lives, and many kids put police officers on a pedestal — until they learn not to trust, and instead to fear. The police, who are there to protect them, become a source of fear and distrust. It is important that children know who to turn to if they are in trouble, if someone is hurting them, and if they need help. If we use the police as an empty threat to frighten children into behaving well, we run the risk that they will not contact the police when they need us.
It’s just as important that adults understand they can call the police when they need help. Too often, citizens tell me about something they observed that was suspicious. When I ask them if they called the police, the answer is no. This has become especially common with package theft.
If an Amazon package is stolen from a front porch, most times, Amazon will replace the item. Still, in these cases, it is important to call the police, and let us know that a theft has occurred. If crimes go unreported, it makes it more likely that additional crimes will happen in the future, and it makes it even more difficult to investigate those crimes.
The same is true for general suspicious behavior. If you see something that just doesn’t seem right, and you are concerned, do not be afraid to call us. That is what we are here for. The old adage, “if you see something, say something,” is good to remember.
While our officers do an excellent job, we can’t be everywhere all of the time. Observant citizens are one of our best sources of information for crime prevention. The more information we have, the better we can serve our community.
There are a number of ways that you can reach out to us.
• Records: 770-974-1232
• Records fax number: 678-801-4059
• Emergency: 911
• Dispatch (24 hours): 770-974-3111
• Jail: 770-974-0295
• Criminal Investigations Division: 678-801-4068
• Drug tips Hotline: 770-974-3025
• Drug tips Email: drugtips@acworth.org
• Tips Hotline: 770-975-5826
• Court services: 770-974-0965
Of course, you always can stop by the police department and meet with an officer. Our officers are here to help, and it is important that none of our citizens, children or adults, is afraid to reach out to us. We are here to help; it is our passion!
– Wayne Dennard has served as chief since 2012 and has lived in this community for more than 40 years.
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