Assistant Chief Cliff Cason
The Dalton Public Safety Commission announced two finalists to succeed Jason Parker as Dalton Police Chief on Wednesday. Assistant Chief Cliff Cason and Captain Chris Cooke, both of the Dalton Police Department, are the commission’s finalists for the position. Combined, they have more than 46 years of experience with the agency.
Chief Parker left the police department in January to become Dalton’s city administrator.
“We have an outstanding police force,” said PSC Chairman Bill Weaver. “I think either of these candidates can take it to even greater heights than where we currently are.”
Assistant Chief Cliff Cason joined the Dalton Police Department as a patrol officer in 1993, serving the agency for more than 24 years. He has served in a number of different roles with the agency, including work as a detective and drug unit detective in the Criminal Investigations Division and division commander in both the Support Services Division and Patrol Division. He was promoted to assistant chief in April 2015 and has served as the acting agency head since Jason Parker’s departure in January. Cason has received a large variety of specialized police command training, including attending the FBI’s National Academy. He has specialized management training from the Georgia Association of Chiefs of Police, the Police Executives’ Research Forum, and the FBI LEEDS (Law Enforcement Executive Development Seminar). Assistant Chief Cason holds a master’s degree in public administration from Columbus State University in Columbus, Ga., and a bachelor’s degree from Covenant College. Assistant Chief Cason is active in the community, including his membership in Dalton’s Civitan Club.
Captain Chris Cooke has served the Dalton Police Department for nearly 22 years, joining the department in July 1996. Captain Cooke is currently the division commander in Support Services after serving two years as the Patrol Division commander. Before earning his promotion to the rank of captain, Cooke served in a variety of functions including as a supervisor of the department’s drug unit in the Criminal Investigations Division, a patrol supervisor and district commander, and as the department’s planning and research manager. Captain Cooke holds a master’s degree in public administration from Columbus State University in Columbus, Ga., and a bachelor’s degree from Covenant College in organizational management. He is currently pursuing a doctorate in public administration from Valdosta State University. Cooke has also received a great deal of specialized training including the FBI’s National Academy and management training from the Georgia Law Enforcement Command College, the Georgia Association of Chiefs of Police, the Police Executives’ Research Forum and FBI-LEEDA command leadership institution.
The Public Safety Commission opened the listing for the job to both internal and external candidates on Jan. 26, and has been working since reviewing and interviewing candidates from both the Dalton Police Department and outside agencies.
“I think the commission was impressed with the caliber of all the applicants that we interviewed. It was a very strong pool,” said Mr. Weaver, adding that part of what led to the selection of the two finalists was Cason and Cooke’s “outstanding service over the years in police work in the city of Dalton, the commendations they have received over the years, the fact that they both have master’s degrees, the fact that they know the culture of the community and the police department.”
There is a minimum 14 day waiting period after the announcement of the finalists before the commission can vote on its final selection. At this time, the Public Safety Commission has not decided whether it will hold a special called meeting for that vote or if it will have that vote at its regularly scheduled meeting on May 22.
The Dalton Public Safety Commission is comprised of Chairman William B. Weaver, Carlos Calderin, Terry Mathis, Keith Whitworth, and Kenneth E. Willis.
Captain Chris Cooke