In a show of support for frontline law enforcement, the Georgia Fraternal Order of Police (FOP) presented the Cornelia Police Department with equipment during Tuesday night’s City Commission meeting on July 1.
The donation includes three ballistic vests, three tourniquets, and three doses of Narcan, all provided through the Georgia FOP’s “Protect the Protectors” program. The equipment was presented on behalf of Georgia FOP President Michael Callahan by Michael Palmer, a law enforcement professional and member of the State Vest Committee.
“Officer safety is a very important issue to all of us in law enforcement, and the ballistic vests and tourniquets have been proven to save lives and reduce injuries,” said Palmer during the presentation. “Every officer should wear a ballistic vest every day. The FOP is working to ensure that more officers within our state have this extra level of security.”
Palmer, who has worked closely with many Cornelia officers over the years, said this particular donation was personal.
“Being able to present these vests and tourniquets to officers that I have worked with over the years is special to me,” he said. “In the world we live in now it is extremely important that all law enforcement officers wear protective vests, and the FOP is proud to assist in that effort.”
The “Protect the Protectors” initiative focuses on smaller law enforcement agencies that may not have the budget for advanced protective gear. According to the Georgia FOP, as of May 2025, 109 officers have been shot in the line of duty nationwide this year. Of those, 33 officers have died, including 15 from gunfire, with two in Georgia. The country has also seen 21 ambush-style attacks on law enforcement so far this year, highlighting the ongoing dangers officers face.
The Georgia FOP, which represents more than 7,500 sworn law enforcement members across the state and is part of a national organization with over 377,000 members, has already delivered 1,067 ballistic vests to 182 agencies in Georgia through this program.
For more information on the “Protect the Protectors” program, visit the Georgia Fraternal Order of Police at www.georgiafop.org.
