Cohutta police officers receiving a 2009 Harley Davidson motorcycle donation from the Chattanooga Police Department. (Image courtesy: Chattanooga Police Department)
COHUTTA, Ga. (WDEF) – The Cohutta Police Department in Whitfield County is on a lengthy path to recovery after a catastrophic fire.
On December 18, 2022, the fire completely consumed the police department’s building.
As a result of the blaze, they lost most of their equipment and have faced significant challenges in recovering for the past two years.
According to Lt. Ryan Fowler of the Cohutta Police Department, “For the past two years, we’ve been rebuilding like a Phoenix rising from the ashes, transforming from nothing to something.”
The journey to fully resume services for the community of about 800 residents has proven to be a challenging one.
Even now, the aftermath of the fire is still visible in this small North Georgia town more than two years later.
The police department operates from a church building more than two years after the incident.
Lt. Fowler stated, “We’ve lost nearly $550,000 worth of equipment, and insurance fell far short of meeting those needs.”
Finding funding for small police departments in less populous towns like Cohutta is typically difficult, even without disasters.
Sgt. Tommy Selter from the Chattanooga Police Department remarked, “We’re a larger department, the fourth largest in the state, so our budget is comparatively larger. Small towns simply lack those resources.”
On Monday, the Cohutta Police Department received assistance from the Chattanooga Police Department, which generously donated a motorcycle to them.
The motorcycle is a 2009 Harley Davidson that had been utilized by the Chattanooga Police for several years.
Lt. Fowler expressed, “This motorcycle will not only be used for enforcement with the Governor’s Office of Highway Safety, but also for motorcycle education, especially considering the growing motorcycle community in Cohutta with weekly bike nights on Thursdays at local venues.”
He emphasized that this donation represents another step towards healing for both the department and the entire community.
Lt. Fowler remarked, “It’s touching to see how deeply people care about public safety, impacting not only our personal lives but also our professional ones. It’s a mutual appreciation; typically, we are the ones out there serving the community, so experiencing this reciprocal love is overwhelming. I’ve been brought to tears numerous times.”
The Cohutta PD plans to remain in the former church building as they establish it as their permanent home.