CORNELIA, Ga.- The Cornelia Police Department has once again been recognized as a State Certified Law Enforcement Agency, extending its status through August 2028 and reaffirming its place as the only certified municipal police department in Habersham County.
The recognition was formally presented during the Cornelia City Commission meeting on Dec. 2. where representatives from the Georgia Association of Chiefs of Police highlighted the department’s continued commitment to professional standards.
‘The honor is earned.’
“The honor is earned, it is not given,” said Ronnie Kilburn of the Georgia Chiefs Association, who deliver the presentation and conducted the department’s most recent assessment. “The members of the Cornelia Police Department, under the direction of Chief [Jonathan] Roberts, have done a great service to you the citizens of Cornelia by maintaining the certification through the state of Georgia.”
Cornelia became state certified in 2007, making it the first agency in Habersham County to reach the benchmark. It remains the only certified police department in the county today.
State compliance was rigorous
Kilburn explained that state certification requires compliance with 141 standards and roughly 275 bullet-point requirements, including policies, training, and reporting procedures. About 157 law enforcement agencies across Georgia currently hold the designation.
“What that does is give them a strong foundation and something you can be proud of,” Kilburn said. “The Cornelia Police Department is being held accountable on more than just municipal level. They’re being held accountable on a state level.”
He said basic legal requirements from the minimum standard for any law enforcement agency, but certification represents a higher level of professional achievement.
“When you become state certified, that’s kind of like having an associate’s degree or a bachelor’s degree,” Kilburn said. “It’s not a ‘have to,’ it’s a ‘want to.’ And in that ‘want to,’ you put together this dedication.”
Cornelia police had full participation
Kilburn praised the department for full participation among officers and staff, something he said not all agencies achieve.
“It takes buy-in from the top all the way to the bottom so that everybody’s on the same page,” he said. “Trust me when I say not all agencies get buy-in and it’s a huge struggle.”
Kilburn told commissioners he spent three years reviewing the department’s standards and documentation and found Cornelia in full compliance. He recommended recertification to the state’s Joint Review Committee, which approved the designation through 2028.
He then presented Chief Roberts and his staff with a plaque recognizing the achievement.
Mayor thanks police for their service
Mayor John Borrow thanked the officers for their service.
“Thank you to all police officers for helping keep us safe,” Borrow said. “We don’t take it for granted.”
The recertification marks nearly two decades of the department’s participation in Georgia’s voluntary statewide law enforcement standards program.
