The Last Macon Police Recruits Become Officers Ending the City’s Police Era

MACON, Georgia (41NBC/WMGT) – In January the Macon Police Officers will swap in their blue uniforms for grey ones to become part of the Bibb County Sheriff’s Office.

The beginning of the new Macon-Bibb County consolidated government is approaching and the law enforcement community is making the necessary adjustments.

The last Macon Police recruits took the oath of office Tuesday.

Seth Conner, William Hamrick and Garrison Page are now serving as Macon police officers, at least until the end of the year.

“This brings the end of an era,” says Macon Police Chief, Henderson. “I’ve sworn in over the last eight years so many young officers and this group is a distinguished group. First of all they had to travel all the way to Tifton, for 10 weeks of training, which put a little more stress on them than the other group. But they went down there and excelled, and we are extremely proud of each one of them.”

The Macon Police Department was created in 1859, shortly after the city was founded. There are 305 sworn officers and 108 civilian employees.

Seth Conner joined the ranks after serving in the U. S. Army National Guard as a military police officer.

“I’ve actually been employed here nearly two years, and I’m just now getting my badge and stuff. Because, I had to deploy over seas in Afghanistan, so I was delayed.”

William Hamrick will be continuing the law enforcement legacy in his family. He says he is happy to have his own badge. His grand-

uncle Hamrick had one while serving as Twiggs County Sheriff for 42 years. His grandfather, Hugh Hamrick, had a badge also. He was a Georgia State Trooper.

“My family’s been in law enforcement,” says William Hamrick. “It’s been a long road to get here, but once this (police badge) is on your chest, you know everything you went through to get here was worth it.”

Garrison Page says he has wanted to be a policeman since he was five-years-old. His father, Rhod Page, is also a retired Georgia State Trooper. Now the elder Page is a Monroe County Sheriff’s Deputy. He pinned his son a Macon Police Officer during the swearing-in ceremony.

“This is a dream come true for me,” says Garrison Page. “I’m glad to finally be here a lot of hard work and dedication has been put into this and I’m glad it’s finally done. I can go and protect the streets of Macon.”

Those serving as Macon Police Officers now, will soon become a part of the new consolidated Macon-Bibb County Government, by becoming sheriff’s deputies. The police department will be dissolved.

Police personnel may have on different uniforms and even wear different badges and shields in 2014.

However, the Macon Police Department command staff says the police force will remain professional officers of the law.

Bibb county sheriff’s office is planning a massive swearing in ceremony for Macon police officers in January.