Welcome to Beyond the Badge--the official podcast of the Columbus Police Department. Beyond the Badge takes you inside the world of law enforcement like never before. Hosted by Public Information Officer Brittany Santiago, this podcast features candid conversations with the officers, leaders, and civilian staff who serve our community every day. In our debut episode, we sit down with Chief Stoney Mathis to discuss his journey in law enforcement, his vision for the Columbus Police Department, and his goals for the future of public safety in our city. Subscribe now and turn on notifications so you never miss an episode!
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#cpdga #BeyondTheBadge #ColumbusPolice #LawEnforcement #Podcast #CommunityPolicing #BehindTheBadge
Beyond the Badge: Inside Columbusā Care 2 Mental Health Response Unit
Officer Arthashika Hughes, Fire Medic Ashley Threatt, and Michael Watson discuss how Columbus' Care 2 unit integrates law enforcement, EMS, and mental health services for improved crisis response.
30 Apr 2026TRANSCRIPT
Beyond the Badge: A First-Year Officer, a Special Needs Mom, and What It Takes
First-year officer Alexandria Hicks shares her journey balancing law enforcement and raising her daughter Ester Grace, offering insights into autism awareness and support systems for families.
1 Apr 2026
Beyond the Badge (Womenās History Month): Assistant Chief Joyce Dent-Fitzpatrick
Weāre closing out Womenās History Month with Assistant Chief Joyce Dent-Fitzpatrick, our highest-ranking female at #TeamCPD.
With more than 30 years in law enforcement, she reflects on the people who shaped her, the road to leadership, and how the conversation around mental health has changed the way officers show up for the job and for each other. She also talks about resources available for those who may be experiencing a crisis.
Itās an honest look #BeyondTheBadge from someone whoās seen the job from just about every angle. #cpdga
31 Mar 2026TRANSCRIPT
Beyond the Badge (Womenās History Month): 911 Director Tracie Abell
As part of our Womenās History Month series, we sat down with 911 Director Tracie Abell.
Just over a year into the role, she talks about leading the center, the pressure dispatchers face, and how she works to keep morale steady. We also cover the RightSite program, now in place with Columbus Fire & EMS, which helps route lower-priority calls so ambulances and fire units stay available for true emergencies.
With National Telecommunicators Week (April 12ā18) coming up, this episode puts a spotlight on the people behind the headset. #cpdga
30 Mar 2026TRANSCRIPT
Beyond the Badge (Womenās History Month): Sgt. Danielle Danforth | Violent Crimes
Sgt. Danielle Danforth doesnāt say much, but when she does, it matters. In this episode of Beyond the Badge, we talk with one of five women in our Violent Crimes Unit. She shares her Augusta roots (the real 706, as she calls it) and what keeps her grounded. We also discuss a case she inherited and ultimately solved, with her unit standing firmly behind herā¦proof that good police work is rarely a solo act.
26 Mar 2026TRANSCRIPT
Beyond the Badge (Women's History Month): Cindy Wareās Return to Preserve #TeamCPD History
After retiring from the Columbus Police Departmentās budget office, Cindy Ware could have called it a career. Instead, she came back...this time to lead and manage #TeamCPD's Heritage Center.
In this Womenās History Month episode of Beyond the Badge, Cindy shares how sheās preserving the departmentās legacy, one artifact at a time. From historic photographs to an annual report dating back to the 1800s, this conversation offers a rare look at the people, moments, and records that shaped #TeamCPD.
#cpdga #WomensHistoryMonth #HERstory
23 Mar 2026TRANSCRIPT
Beyond the Badge (Women's History Month): Cpl. Amanda Cobbs, Hit & Run Investigator
Host interviews Cpl. Amanda Cobbs, Hit & Run Investigator, about her career, navigating hit-and-run cases, and the women who inspired her law enforcement journey.
13 Mar 2026TRANSCRIPT
Beyond the Badge (Women's History Month): Lt. Jane Edenfield on Property Crime, Scams, & More!
Lt. Jane Edenfield shares insights into property crimes, scams, and fraud prevention strategies in this interview on Beyond the Badge.
5 Mar 2026TRANSCRIPT
Beyond the Badge: How Technology Supports Policing at #TeamCPD
In this episode of Beyond the Badge, we talk with Sgt. Max Todd and Sgt. Richard McLaughlin about the technology powering the Columbus Police Departmentās Real Time Crime Center. From drones to the camera registry program, they explain how these tools assist officers in real time and strengthen investigations. Theyāre the in-house IT minds helping build and maintain the systems that support modern policing at CPD. #cpdga #BeyondTheBadge #RTCC #BrainsAndBadges
17 Feb 2026TRANSCRIPT
Beyond the Badge with Cpl. Darquis Brown - Service, Scams, and Staying Sharp
Corporal Darquis Brown recounts his career journey through various police units and shares insights from a recent scam case, highlighting the importance of community vigilance in preventing financial crimes in this interview.
18 Jul 2025TRANSCRIPT
Beyond the Badge with Deputy Chief Deaton: Next Chapter
Deputy Chief Lance Deaton reflects on his distinguished career, discusses leadership challenges, and shares his vision for the future of public safety in this interview.
23 Jun 2025TRANSCRIPT
From Cadets to Cops: Anden Howell & Ulises Hernandez Step Into the Badge
Officers Anden Howell and Ulises Hernandez discuss how the cadet program prepared them for the police academy and their early experiences as law enforcement officers in this interview.
13 May 2025TRANSCRIPT
Beyond the Badge with the Waldie Brothers - Family, Public Safety, and a Little Bit of Music
Whatās it like when three brothers work in one place? Meet the WaldiesāZachary (911 Supervisor), Logan (Motor Squad), and Bradley (Sergeant)āeach serving in a different role, but all under one roof at CPD.
In this episode of Beyond the Badge, the brothers open up about family dynamics at work, public safety from three unique angles, and what itās like to balance duty and brotherhood. Expect laughs, stories, and maybe a little friendly roasting.
And yesāone of the Waldies has bars. š¶ Check out Logan Waldieās music on SoundCloud: https://m.soundcloud.com/hashtagraps (https://m.soundcloud.com/hashtagraps)
š§ Listen now: https://rss.com/podcasts/beyond-the-badge-pod1/ (https://rss.com/podcasts/beyond-the-badge-pod1/)
#cpdga #BeyondTheBadge #TeamCPD #FamilyBusiness #WaldieBrothers #HashtagRaps
30 Apr 2025TRANSCRIPT
Beyond the Badge with Lt. Alicia Hoover - Advocacy, Impact, and Child Protection
In this episode, we sit down with newly promoted Lieutenant Alicia Hoover to talk about her path through the Columbus Police Department, her leadership style, and what drives her work.
With April being Child Abuse Prevention Month, Lt. Hoover also shares her experience investigating cases involving both adults and children, and the critical role CPD plays in protecting vulnerable victims. She highlights the departmentās partnership with Childrenās Treehouse and how the community can get involved to support their mission.
From leadership to advocacy, Lt. Hoover offers a powerful look at what it means to serve and why compassion is just as important as command.
18 Apr 2025TRANSCRIPT
Beyond the Badge with Sgt. Sherman Hayes: Justice Served.
In this episode of Beyond the Badge, Sergeant Sherman Hayes from #TeamCPDās Violent Crimes Unit joins us to talk about justiceāboth served and still in progress. He walks us through a recent case that ended in conviction, highlighting the behind-the-scenes work that led to the courtroom win. We also dig into CPDās high solvability rate, why it matters, and what sets the department apart. Plus, Sgt. Hayes shares what keeps him up at nightācold cases that still donāt have answers.
We also shine a light on his new television project, Beyond the Yellow Tape, airing soon on WXTX Fox 54, which aims to give the public an inside look at how detectives work some of the cityās toughest cases. Itās a candid conversation about justice, persistence, and the people behind the investigations.
In this episode of Beyond the Badge, we sit down with Assistant Chief Debra Kennedy and Assistant Chief Joyce Dent-Fitzpatrick, two trailblazers within the Columbus Police Department.
They reflect on their journeys through the ranks, from Patrol to the Command Staff, sharing candid stories about the challenges they've faced as women in law enforcement, the mentors who pushed them forward, and the moments that defined their leadership.
We discuss:
Their journeys to leadership within CPD
The challenges they faced and overcame along the way
The importance of mentorship and representation
Advice for women pursuing careers in law enforcement
This episode offers an honest and inspiring look at what it means to lead with courage, perseverance, and purpose.
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Subscribe and follow for future episodes!
24 Mar 2025TRANSCRIPT
Beyond the Badge with Captain William Turner - 50+ Years of Service and Still Going
In this episode of Beyond the Badge, we sit down with Captain William Turner, a true legend at the Columbus Police Department. With 50+ years of service, Captain Turner shares his journeyāfrom starting as a cadet in 1971 to becoming a seasoned leader who has witnessed the departmentās evolution firsthand.
#BeyondTheBadge #TeamCPD #Podcast #CaptainTurner #50YearsOfService #CPD
8 Mar 2025TRANSCRIPT
Beyond the Badge with Chief Stoney Mathis - Leadership and the Future of #TeamCPD
Welcome to the debut episode of Beyond the Badge, the official podcast of the Columbus, GA Police Department! In this episode, host Brittany Santiago sits down with Chief Stoney Mathis for an in-depth conversation about:
His background in law enforcement and career journey
His vision for the Columbus Police Department
Goals for strengthening public safety and community relationships
The future of CPD and upcoming initiatives
Chief Mathis shares his insights on leadership, law enforcement challenges, and what citizens can expect from #TeamCPD in the future.
Stay connected for more episodes featuring officers, department personnel, and community leaders as we take you behind the scenes of CPD.
Inside a recent episode
Beyond the Badge: Inside Columbusā Care 2 Mental Health Response Unit
Published 28 May 2026 Ā· Transcript excerpt
[ā¦] Right. So we understand that you all still have to abide by all the HIPAA rules and stuff, but without going into like anything too specific, Ashley, is there something that you can share where this has made a clear difference? Just getting feedback from people that I work with, my coworkers, the call volume dropping. And we, as an ambulance, because it's billed, you can't technically take them to a psychiatric ward. But since this is not billed, we can take them directly to the Bradley. And it also helps our ERs out with the capacity that they have, people holding the walls, and you only got so many nurses. [ā¦]
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