02/08/2023
BLACK HISTORY MONTH 2023
These two officers are Officers Willie Cook and Officer Augustus Flowers. They were Thomasville's first black police officers. They faced some shocking tribulations during their first years with the police department. They were restricted to policing in "The Bottom," (the 300 block of West Jackson) and were only permitted to arrest black citizens. They began work in 1954 but were not allowed in the police department or permitted to check out a patrol vehicle until 1969.
Officer Flowers became the first black man to achieve the rank of Sergeant in South Georgia! He rose higher in rank to Lieutenant during his career at TPD.
History isn't always pretty. A lot of times it is uncomfortable and downright ugly. But we can't turn a blind eye. We must recognize the trials and tribulations, the hardships, and the steps that others took before us to pave the way to the future. They made strides that contributed to the department being a more diverse and inclusive organization, and more representative of the community as a whole.
Chief John Letteney has said, of diversity and inclusion, “It’s important to have as diverse a staff as we can,” he said. "They bring that richness into that organization, that opinion, that voice that we don’t hear. Who we have in leadership roles is important. We need to reflect that diversity of our community.”
Photo credit goes to the Thomasville History Center
