DPD Officers Promoted, Honored, And Returned

Two veteran officers were promoted into new roles, two former officers returned to the ranks, and three officers received awards for life-saving efforts - all in all, not a bad morning for the Dalton Police Department. It all happened at Tuesday morning's monthly meeting of the Dalton Public Safety Commission. 

Officers Promoted

Sam Eaton's promotion to lieutenant and Jacob Burger's promotion to sergeant were both approved by unanimous 4-0 votes of the Public Safety Commission's members. 

Lt. Eaton joined the Dalton Police Department in 1999. He served in the patrol division for a decade before becoming a detective in 2009. There he served first as a drug unit investigator and then later as the agency's primary crime scene investigator before earning promotion to sergeant in 2018. After serving as a patrol supervisor, he returned to the drug unit where he supervised investigators. With his promotion to lieutenant, Eaton will return to the Patrol Division and serve as a shift commander. Lt. Eaton is a graduate of Dalton State College and Dalton High School. In addition to earning Employee of the Month honors in June 2003, he has also received 22 letters of commendation for outstanding performance of his duties. 

Lt. Sam Eaton (left) and Sgt. Jacob Burger (right) pose after having their promotions confirmed and their badges pinned by their wives (photo at right)

Sergeant Burger joined the Dalton Police Department in December 2007, and served as a patrol officer until moving into the Criminal Investigations Division in 2015 as a general case detective. In that role, he earned commendation last year for outstanding investigative skill and work in clearing a string of burglaries. He now returns to patrol as a shift supervisor. A native of New York state, Sergeant Burger is a graduate of the State University of New York at Morrisville. 

Life-Saving Awards

Dalton officers were honored at Tuesday morning's meeting for their role in two life-saving events. 

Officers Steven Herrera and Joshua Bethune were both honored with the agency's Life Saving Award for their heroic actions in July when they were dispatched to a report of a woman who had been stabbed. When they arrived at the scene in front of 522 B Straight Street, the officers found the victim suffering from a stab wound in the neck. The officers immediately rendered life saving care to try to control the victim's bleeding and keep her stable until EMS could arrive. The victim was ultimately transported to the hospital and survived her wounds. Her attacker, 28 year old Shaquae Robinson of Dalton, was arrested a short time after the incident. 

Officers Joshua Bethune (center) and Steven Herrera (right) pose with Asst. Chief Chris Crossen after receiving their awards

Also honored Tuesday was Officer Zach Bell. Officer Bell was recognized for his actions in a May 20th crash on Chatsworth Highway in Murray County while he was on his way to work in Dalton. Officer Bell arrived on the scene of a crash which left a vehicle on fire and the driver trapped inside. Officer Bell stopped and turned on his car's emergency lights and immediately ran to the crashed car and helped the driver get out and get clear to safety. For his actions in the incident, he was also honored with the Life Saving Award. 

Officer Zach Bell (right) poses with Asst. Chief Crossen after receiving his award

New Old Officers

Two new officers also had their appointments to the Dalton Police Department confirmed by unanimous vote of the PSC. The new officers are both returning to the DPD after leaving for other opportunities. 

Officer Grant Mantooth is returning for his third stint as an officer with the Dalton Police Department. He previously served with the agency from March 2002 until October 2003 and again from November 2012 until August 2015. In between, he worked as a funeral director and embalmer with the Julian Peeples Funeral Home and maintained his police certifications as a volunteer reserve officer with the Cohutta Police Department. He's a graduate of Ogeechee Technical College in Statesboro and Northwest Whitfield High School. 

Officer Daniel Jones is returning for his second stint as a Dalton Police Department officer. Officer Jones first served with the agency from April 2007 until September 2014 before leaving to work as a conductor with the Norfolk Southern Railway. In 2015, he resumed his law enforcement career, joining the Whitfield County Sheriff's Office first as a patrol deputy and then later as a detective, rising to the rank of sergeant in the Criminal Investigations Division where he served until leaving this month to rejoin Dalton PD. He is a graduate of Bryan College and Northwest Whitfield High School. 

Returning officers Daniel Jones (left) and Grant Mantooth (center) pose with Chief Cliff Cason after having their appointments confirmed