Community Policing Beyond a Single Event: Making a Difference in Rural Georgia Communities

To say that the events of the last few years have put a strain on community-police relationships is putting it mildly. Increasingly, the dynamic between police departments and the communities they serve has been characterized by mutual distrust. Healing and reconciliation are badly needed, and yet no one seems to be able to find a solution. 

No one, that is, except a few police departments in rural Georgia, who have found a way to deepen their connection to their constituents while also improving their communities. In partnership with the Tiers Free Academy, the Montezuma, Marshallville, and Oglethorpe Police Departments successfully launched the Macon County Chiefs’ Diploma Program in 2018. The program is an alternative high school diploma program designed for non-traditional students or those who may have dropped out of high school. 

Community Policing in Action

The community policing model is based on three guiding principles: the development of community partnerships, problem-solving, and the implementation of organizational features that support these efforts. Specifically, community policing practices focus on fostering cooperative relationships between law enforcement agencies and community organizations (including businesses, other government agencies, nonprofits, and more). Those relationships are then leveraged to address needs specific to that community.

Ultimately, everyone benefits from community policing. Law enforcement officers are more involved and informed, thereby allowing them to take a more proactive approach to stopping crime. In turn, community members and organizations enjoy safer, more cohesive communities. 

Amidst the divisiveness of the last few years, examples of community policing initiatives like the Chiefs’ Diploma Program represent an opportunity for unity and collaboration. The program is administered by the Marshallville Police Departments in partnership with the Dr. Annise Mabry Foundation. Funding is provided by the Metro Atlanta United Way Foundation, the  International Paper Foundation, the Dollar General Foundation, the General Mills Community Foundation, and the Tegan and Sarah Foundation. In addition, the program works collaboratively with the school system, the judicial circuit and probation department, and the chamber of commerce for economic development. 

“Working with the applicants for the diploma program has really given me an opportunity to learn my community on a whole different level. Having the opportunity to implement this program in my agency has been refreshing and it really reminded me why I started policing—to make a difference. This program makes a difference in not just one person’s life but it literally transforms an entire family’s economic outlook for the future,” said Chief Patricia Barber of the Marshallville Police Department.

A Novel Approach to Educational Disparities

Students in Georgia, particularly students of color and/or students from rural backgrounds, face a unique set of barriers to their education. Only 77% of students of color from rural areas graduate from high school in four years, compared to the 83% national average. 

The reasons for this are complex; however, socioeconomic inequality plays a large role. Communities that have a high proportion of African American residents (as is the case in many Georgia counties) are more likely to experience “concentrated disadvantage.” Those disadvantages include poverty, unemployment, family instability, poor health, substance abuse, and more. Schools in those areas also tend to receive less funding, meaning that fewer resources are available to students. 

The result is that when it comes to graduating high school, the odds are stacked against many individuals. Deneen Porter, one of the 2022 graduates of the Chiefs’ Diploma Program, dropped out of high school in the 11th grade, after her mother was diagnosed with ovarian cancer and Deneen herself became pregnant. Rashad Jones, another 2022 graduate, worked two jobs in high school in order to help make ends meet, and as a result was unable to keep up with his schoolwork. 

What sets the Chiefs’ Diploma Program apart from other online alternative diploma programs is its flexibility and self-paced structure. Rather than being forced to start over, students are able to pick up where they left off. Moreover, because the program is completed virtually, students aren’t forced to choose between their education and their job or family responsibilities. 

A Happy Ending

Four years after its launch, 137 students from Macon County and the surrounding areas have earned their high school diplomas through the Chiefs’ Diploma Program. For many students, their graduation represents a new chance at higher education and career development. In their graduation speeches, many students announced college acceptances or plans to pursue advanced degrees. “Life dreams that I’ve always wanted to see fulfilled are now within my reach,” said Shentoria Baisden, a 2022 graduate.

These students’ inspiring stories have been recorded in the Box Breakers Anthology, a sequel to Dr. Mabry’s first book, Educational Disobedience. As part of their coursework, Chiefs’ Diploma Program graduates complete a class in Creative Writing. The course’s capstone project consists of a 1,200 word essay entitled “My Journey to a High School Diploma.” The completed essays are reviewed by the graduation committee, and 12 each year are selected for publication.

The Chiefs’ Diploma Program offers non-traditional students a second chance at education and, by extension, economic mobility. The Dr. Annise Mabry Foundation is dedicated to improving our community by enhancing education opportunities, promoting synchrony between law enforcement and constituents, and encouraging community engagement. 

Our programs and initiatives include the Southwest GA Community Policing Resource Center and the Tiers Free Academy, a homeschool cooperative for students in grades 9-12 that provides an alternative diploma program for homeless LGBTQ youth, sex trafficking survivors, and high school dropouts. To learn more about our offerings or support our work, consider subscribing to our newsletter or purchasing a copy of the Box Breakers Anthology on Amazon today!