Administration Division

The Administration Division is the home to several behind-the-scenes functions of the police department.  Those functions include purchasing, accreditation/certification, research and development, strategic planning, and policy development.  

Captain Barry Woods, a Whitfield County native and graduate of Northwest Whitfield High School, joined the police department in February 1998.  Captain Woods has spent the majority of his career in the agency’s Criminal Investigations Division, serving as a general case investigator, a detective in the Drug Unit, and a supervisor.  Captain Woods was promoted to captain in 2019 and has spent time managing the Criminal Investigations Division, the Patrol Division, and the Administration Division.  Captain Woods holds an associate’s degree from Dalton State College, a bachelor’s degree from the University of West Georgia, and a master's degree from Columbus State University.  Captain Woods has received specialized management training from FBI LEEDS (Law Enforcement Executive Development Seminar) and the Georgia Association of Chiefs of Police. 

Accreditation / Certification

The Dalton Police Department has maintained certification through the Georgia Police Accreditation Coalition (GPAC) since 1998 and accreditation through the Commission on Accreditation for Law Enforcement Agencies (CALEA) since 2013.  ​

CALEA maintains an access portal which allows for Comment and Feedback with regard to candidate agencies seeking initial accreditation and reaccreditation status.  This agency-specific access link is provided as an opportunity for comments, commendations, and other information regarding the agency’s quality of service or other information relevant to the accreditation process.