Beyond the Badge

Beyond the Badge: A First-Year Officer, a Special Needs Mom, and What It Takes

Officer Alexandria Hicks is a first-year officer and mother of two, raising her daughter Ester Grace, who is on the autism spectrum (level three, profound) with additional health challenges. She speaks candidly about balancing the job and home life, what changed after her daughter’s diagnosis, and the support systems that helped her family stay afloat when it mattered most. The conversation addresses common misunderstandings about autism, especially during high-stress encounters, and offers practical considerations for how officers and the public can respond more effectively. She closes with encouragement for other parents and caregivers who may be walking a similar path.

Beyond the Badge (Women’s History Month): Assistant Chief Joyce Dent-Fitzpatrick

We’re closing out Women’s 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. It’s an honest look #BeyondTheBadge from someone who’s seen the job from just about every angle. #cpdga

Beyond the Badge (Women’s History Month): 911 Director Tracie Abell

As part of our Women’s 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 12–18) coming up, this episode puts a spotlight on the people behind the headset. #cpdga

Beyond the Badge (Women’s History Month): Sgt. Danielle Danforth | Violent Crimes

Sgt. Danielle Danforth doesn’t 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 her…proof that good police work is rarely a solo act.

Beyond the Badge (Women's History Month): Cindy Ware’s Return to Preserve #TeamCPD History

After retiring from the Columbus Police Department’s 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 Women’s History Month episode of Beyond the Badge, Cindy shares how she’s preserving the department’s 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