Columbus police officer honored with GA House resolution for helping homeless
A Columbus police officer was honored Tuesday by Georgia state Rep. Teddy Reese (D-Columbus), who presented her with a House resolution commending her community policing work.
Reese also presented the Columbus Police Department with House Resolution 1225, congratulating CPD for winning the FBI National Academy Associates’ Phyllis Goodwin Agency of the Year Award, which the Ledger-Enquirer reported in January.
The resolution was authored by Reese and cosponsored by state Rep. Carolyn Hugley (D-Columbus), state Rep. Carmen Rice (R-Columbus), state Rep. Debbie Buckner (D-Junction City) and state Rep. Vance Smith (R-Pine Mountain).
“When we see that you are being recognized by people around this state, around this nation, we certainly have to make sure that we pause to do the same thing, because you are worthy of that recognition,” Reese said during the news conference at CPD headquarters.
Following the presentation of the resolution to CPD, Reese presented House Resolution 1686, acknowledging Williams for being named WRBL News 3’s Remarkable Woman of the Year.
Williams was given the honor for her work with the homeless population in Columbus, according to WRBL.
“We’re thankful for your commitment to the people of Columbus,” Reese told Williams. “We’re thankful for your commitment to the growth and development of this area.”
During her speech after the announcement of the resolution honoring her, Williams brought up the other members of her community policing unit, saying they “have a heart of giving.”
“We get a chance to minister to just about everybody in this community,” she said.
The group works to build relationships and fight crime, according to Williams.
“In building relationships, we fight all kinds of crime,” she said.
“This unit would not be able to do what we do if it wasn’t for the community, the relationships that we build and people just loving what we do,” Williams said.
Reese said community policing is what bridges law enforcement to the community, “and I think we can all agree that bridge can never be too wide.”
Assistant chief reacts to department’s honor
CPD Assistant Chief Lance Deaton said the department was nominated for the agency of the year award by the Georgia Bureau of Investigation. He said it was humbling and surprising, not only to win the award but also to have the GBI nominate the department.
Deaton said the acknowledgment given by Reese and the agency of the year award are “100% the doing of the men and women you see out here and the ones on the street every single day.”
Leadership matters, he said, but not without the people doing the work buying into the leadership and the mission.
Deaton also acknowledged the support he said the department has received from the local and state governments.
CPD said it was selected for its work in reducing crime, increasing staff, leadership development and modernization. In less than two years, the department reached full staffing, improved officer pay and boosted morale, CPD said.
The news release from CPD says the department also made major investments in technology, which include Columbus’ first Real Time Crime Center, expanded camera and license plate reader programs, upgraded body-worn and in-car cameras, drone capabilities and modernized records and dispatch systems.
The results include Part I crimes dropping more than 30% over the past two years, violent crime dropping 29% in the most recent year and case clearance rates exceeding national averages, according to the news release.
This story was originally published April 7, 2026 at 3:29 PM.