Beyond the Badge

On this episode of Beyond the Badge, we highlight Columbus Correct Care (Care 2), Columbus’ first co-responder unit focused on mental health-related calls. The Care 2 Unit responds with a specialized van equipped with a medical triage area staffed by a fire medic and supported by a certified mental health clinician, allowing medical and behavioral health needs to be addressed together on scene. Of...

Officer Alexandria Hicks is a first-year officer and mother of two, raising her daughter Ester Grace, who is on the autism spectrum (level three, profound) with additional health challenges. She speaks candidly about balancing the job and home life, what changed after her daughter’s diagnosis, and the support systems that helped her family stay afloat when it mattered most. The conversation addres...

We’re closing out Women’s History Month with Assistant Chief Joyce Dent-Fitzpatrick, our highest-ranking female at #TeamCPD. With more than 30 years in law enforcement, she reflects on the people who shaped her, the road to leadership, and how the conversation around mental health has changed the way officers show up for the job and for each other. She also talks about resources available for thos...

As part of our Women’s History Month series, we sat down with 911 Director Tracie Abell. Just over a year into the role, she talks about leading the center, the pressure dispatchers face, and how she works to keep morale steady. We also cover the RightSite program, now in place with Columbus Fire & EMS, which helps route lower-priority calls so ambulances and fire units stay available for true...

Sgt. Danielle Danforth doesn’t say much, but when she does, it matters. In this episode of Beyond the Badge, we talk with one of five women in our Violent Crimes Unit. She shares her Augusta roots (the real 706, as she calls it) and what keeps her grounded. We also discuss a case she inherited and ultimately solved, with her unit standing firmly behind her…proof that good police work is rarely a s...

After retiring from the Columbus Police Department’s budget office, Cindy Ware could have called it a career. Instead, she came back...this time to lead and manage #TeamCPD's Heritage Center. In this Women’s History Month episode of Beyond the Badge , Cindy shares how she’s preserving the department’s legacy, one artifact at a time. From historic photographs to an annual report dating back to the...

In this episode of Beyond the Badge, we sit down with Cpl. Amanda Cobbs, our Hit & Run Investigator with #TeamCPD’s Motor Squad. From her roots in Buena Vista, GA to her role today, she shares what it takes to work cases where drivers leave the scene, and what you should do if it happens to you. Beyond the job, she reflects on the women who shaped her path into law enforcement and the importan...

In recognition of Women's History Month, this episode of Beyond the Badge features Lt. Jane Edenfield, who leads #TeamCPD’s Property Crimes Unit. Lt. Edenfield discusses the types of cases her unit investigates, including scams and financial crimes that often involve bitcoin machines and gift cards. She also talks about the department’s Porch Pirate enforcement detail, her regular fraud prevention...

In this episode of Beyond the Badge, we talk with Sgt. Max Todd and Sgt. Richard McLaughlin about the technology powering the Columbus Police Department’s Real Time Crime Center. From drones to the camera registry program, they explain how these tools assist officers in real time and strengthen investigations. They’re the in-house IT minds helping build and maintain the systems that support modern...

Cpl. Darquis Brown with #TeamCPD's Property Crimes Unit talks about his path through the department—from Patrol to Special Operations and now Property Crimes—and the experiences that shaped him along the way. He also shares details from a recent case where a quick-thinking local citizen helped stop a scam that nearly cost an elderly man thousands of dollars. It’s a straightforward conversation abo...

In this episode of Beyond the Badge , we sit down with Deputy Chief Lance Deaton ahead of his promotion to Assistant Chief. With nearly three decades of service, Deaton reflects on lessons learned, leadership challenges, and the people who helped shape his career. Hear his thoughts on the department’s future and what drives his commitment to public safety. #cpdga #BeyondTheBadge #TeamCPD #Leadersh...

In this episode of Beyond the Badge , we sit down with Officers Anden Howell and Ulises Hernandez — two of #TeamCPD’s newest officers who started their journey as cadets. Hear how their time in the cadet program prepared them for the academy, what surprised them most about becoming officers, and what motivates them as they begin their careers in law enforcement. This is what commitment to service...

What’s it like when three brothers work in one place? Meet the Waldies—Zachary (911 Supervisor), Logan (Motor Squad), and Bradley (Sergeant)—each serving in a different role, but all under one roof at CPD. In this episode of Beyond the Badge , the brothers open up about family dynamics at work, public safety from three unique angles, and what it’s like to balance duty and brotherhood. Expect laugh...

In this episode, we sit down with newly promoted Lieutenant Alicia Hoover to talk about her path through the Columbus Police Department, her leadership style, and what drives her work. With April being Child Abuse Prevention Month, Lt. Hoover also shares her experience investigating cases involving both adults and children, and the critical role CPD plays in protecting vulnerable victims. She high...

In this episode of Beyond the Badge , Sergeant Sherman Hayes from #TeamCPD’s Violent Crimes Unit joins us to talk about justice—both served and still in progress. He walks us through a recent case that ended in conviction, highlighting the behind-the-scenes work that led to the courtroom win. We also dig into CPD’s high solvability rate, why it matters, and what sets the department apart. Plus, Sg...

In this episode of Beyond the Badge , we sit down with Assistant Chief Debra Kennedy and Assistant Chief Joyce Dent-Fitzpatrick, two trailblazers within the Columbus Police Department. They reflect on their journeys through the ranks, from Patrol to the Command Staff, sharing candid stories about the challenges they've faced as women in law enforcement, the mentors who pushed them forward, and the...

In this episode of Beyond the Badge, we sit down with Captain William Turner, a true legend at the Columbus Police Department. With 50+ years of service, Captain Turner shares his journey—from starting as a cadet in 1971 to becoming a seasoned leader who has witnessed the department’s evolution firsthand. #BeyondTheBadge #TeamCPD #Podcast #CaptainTurner #50YearsOfService #CPD

Welcome to the debut episode of Beyond the Badge, the official podcast of the Columbus, GA Police Department! In this episode, host Brittany Santiago sits down with Chief Stoney Mathis for an in-depth conversation about: His background in law enforcement and career journey His vision for the Columbus Police Department Goals for strengthening public safety and community relationships The future of...