The Dalton Police Department promoted one young officer and honored a veteran lieutenant on Tuesday at the monthly meeting of the Public Safety Commission. Mollie Parker was promoted to the rank of sergeant Tuesday by unanimous vote of the commission and Lieutenant Ricky Long was honored as the department's officer of the month for December.
Sergeant Parker has been a member of the police department for more than eight years, joining in the summer of 2013 first as a non-sworn records technician and then earning her law enforcement certification and becoming a patrol officer later that year. Sergeant Parker has served in an administrative role since September 2020, service as the department's accreditation manager. Sergeant Parker is a northwest Georgia native, graduating from Murray County High School in 2009 and earning her bachelor's degree from the University of North Georgia in Dahlonega in 2013.
Lieutenant Long was honored as December's officer of the month for his outstanding work to make the Christmas holidays a little brighter for some deserving Dalton kids. Lt. Long oversaw the agency's "Shop With A Hero" event, managing both the year-long fundraising effort and also planning for the event. Lt. Long was also one of the top individual fundraisers for the project. The annual event matches kids selected by Dalton Public School staff with a police officer or Dalton firefighter for a shopping trip to Walmart using funds raised by the police and fire departments. The event is an annual highlight for both agencies. The 2021 event was the most successful to date, as the agencies were able to raise enough funds to provide Christmas for 20 kids in need.
As Tuesday's meeting was the first of 2022 for the Public Safety Commission, the body also voted on its officers for the year. Chairman Terry Mathis and Secretary Anthony Walker were both re-elected to continue serving in those roles for another year.
The Dalton Public Safety Commission is comprised of Chairman Terry Mathis, Alex Brown, Anthony Walker, Bill Weaver, and Truman Whitfield.