Public Safety

Palatka Police Department; Where The Community Comes First

Putnam County Officer and attending child at
the Sheriff's Office tent at the 2017
Palatka Pride Fall Festival.

Every year, the Palatka Police Department, the Palatka Fire Department, Putnam County Sheriff’s Office, the local school faculty and administration as well as the Palatka community itself to make Fall a time for fun in Palatka.

Palatka's Chief of Police Jason L. Shaw said creating events like the town's Fall Festival is "just something we do to give back to our community."

"None of us get paid for this," Shaw said. "We're here to show the community that we're involved and that we care. If the community sees that we're involved, they're involved."

Tobby Williams makes sure not a moment of fun goes un-captured. Every year, Williams, captain of the Palatka Police Department, takes on the challenge of planning and putting on the Fall Festival.

Williams and his fellow officers can all be found volunteering at the event to promote safety while capturing the moment from the sky via a drone. Williams is considered the “tech guy” on the team. He uploads the footage to the Palatka Police Department’s Facebook page to help “tell Palatka’s story.”

Palatka Police Department Captain Tobby Williams operating a drone to capture the Palatka Pride Fall Festival event.

Officer DJ Johnson is on duty but off the clock at this year’s Palatka Pride Fall Festival. Johnson is an officer in the bicycle division of the Palatka Police Force. When asked if Palatka was a dying town, he replied, “depends on what you consider dying,” pointing out that though large companies like J. C. Penney and the town’s AMC Theatre have gone out of business in Palatka, he only sees opportunity.

“Now locals, home-grown people, can thrive. When one door closes, another opens,” Johnson said.

Johnson argues that the fleeing of huge corporations means more room for Palatkans to move in and start businesses of their own.

Palatka Police Department Officer DJ Johnson and the bicycle unit fielding a
citizen complaint at the 2017 Palatka Pride Fall Festival. 

The Palatka Police Department knows that the town is ever changing, is prepared to change with it. Johnson’s bicycle division recently underwent a complete makeover: new uniforms for a new perspective. 

“The purpose of the bike unit is to engage with the community and show one of many avenues of communication,” Johnson said. 

Implementing new uniforms that resemble casual attire without sacrificing the protective gear the officer needs, means officers like Johnson can become a more familiar and friendly face in the neighborhood. 

Johnson said being in full uniform can intimidate some of Palatka’s youth that may want to reach out and ask for help.