Everyday Heroes 2020

perry police
Department
Detective SERGEANT JASON JONES
By KRISTIN MORIARTY
“We’re out here to protect and
serve the public, and do so in a
compassionate and understanding
way,” – Perry Police Department
Detective Sergeant Jason Jones.
Public safety is a way of life for
Jones. He started out as a volunteer
firefighter at the age of 16, to later
on entering the law enforcement
side. Jones was born and raised in
Triune, Tennessee. No one in his
family had a career in public safety.
What sparked his interest were
the stories from working at a local
grocery store when he was 16.
“The man who ran the grocery
store was also a volunteer firefighter,”
Jones said. “He had this
“special” phone, which basically,
when it rang, it was either for a fire
or accident. He would drop what he
was doing and take off. So I thought
it was really cool and hearing his
stories, I became even more interested.”
Jones works other cases as well, such as armed robberies, homicides,
it’s a great resource and partnership.”
After high school, Jones worked his way up through the ranks of the etc. For the first time in eight years, the city of Perry had its first
Franklin Fire Department in Tennessee becoming assistant fire marshal.
As the assistant fire marshal there, he helped start the William-
murdered. Jones is accredited for the confession of the case, and said
homicide case in 2016, where a young man named Sam Poss was
son County Task Force that focused on arson cases. The chief that he while it has been four years since it happened; it still sticks with him
worked for then took a chief’s position in Clearwater, Florida, where to this day.
he offered Jones a logistics chief position.
“That was such a difficult case to process especially since there was
Jones was in Clearwater for three years, and in 2007, moved to Perry, no reason for it, there was no sense in it,” Jones said. “It bothered
Georgia. Former Perry Fire Chief Joel Gray knew Jones when he was me even more because my son was the same age as Sam, and all I
in Florida. Gray heard Jones was looking to go back home, but Gray could think was that could have happened to him. Seeing him (Poss)
suggested that Jones try out Perry.
after we found him, it took me a while to process that. Everybody
“When I was in Franklin, I had gotten the law enforcement “bug” thinks we (law enforcement officers) are these machines and have no
with conducting arson investigations,” Jones said. “So when I moved feelings or compassion. But that is far from the truth.”
to Perry, I met Chief (George) Potter, and he knew I was going out for When asked how does one cope with matters of the job, Jones said
the fire department, and he said, ‘You’d be a better police officer than his faith and learning to put it (the job) away.
a firefighter, boy. You’re a big ol’ boy; you’ll work perfect,’” Jones said “With what we see and deal with in this job, you can’t just forget
laughing. “And so he hired me that day. My wife, Angela, who is my things,” Jones said. “So I look at as you have these boxes in your
high school sweetheart, and I really liked Perry. It reminded us a lot of mind, and you put all the different stuff away because if you don’t it
home, and our children were just barely at the age of starting school, will tear and wear you down. And of course, the more you experience
so we decided to move to Perry, and it’s been home ever since.” different matters, the easier it is to deal with. I think it’s the biggest
Jones was first hired on to the Perry Police Department in 2007. He thing in knowing how to separate the two because you can’t take it
spent almost four years on patrol and was then promoted to detective
sergeant working in the criminal investigations division. Jones is tremely hard to have that conversation with them because they don’t
home; they don’t have a clue what you’re dealing with. And it’s ex-
currently finishing his bachelor’s degree in homeland security, and is understand.”
also a member of the Middle Georgia Safe Streets Gang Task Force. Even though the job can be tough at times, Jones said he truly enjoys
The task force is an initiative that was started by the FBI (Federal what he does.
Bureau of Investigation), through which the FBI partners with law “I do,” Jones said. “I really enjoy getting to know the people. You interact
with all different walks of life, and you’re constantly learning.”
enforcement agencies in supplying resources and equipment.
“That has been a huge asset for our department with me being on Jones’ advice to his fellow law enforcement officers is make it home
the task force,” Jones said. “It allows us (Perry Police Department) to their families at the end of each shift, but always be understanding
to work bigger cases with more resources, and gives me national as well.
jurisdiction where normally we would have to call in others to help “No matter who you’re dealing with, always be understanding and
us. Currently, I am the only narcotics detective at the department, but compassionate because you don’t know what they’re truly going
I never work alone. Most of the time I work with the Houston County through or what they have gone through,” Jones said. “Treat everyone
with respect because not everybody always deserves to go to
Sheriff’s Office because they have investigators who are also members
of the Middle Georgia Safe Streets Gang Task Force. All around jail. There are other avenues we can take to impact a person’s life in a
positive way.”
EVERYDAY HEROES 2020 17