She Wore a Toy Badge at Five — Now She’s Leading the Force
At just five years old, Alyssa Montgomery would clip a plastic toy badge to her shirt, salute her reflection in the mirror, and march through her backyard in a self-styled “patrol” around the neighborhood. Back then, no one could have imagined that decades later, she’d be wearing the real thing — not as a beat cop, but as the first Black female police chief of Hawthorne County, a diverse and historically male-dominated district in Georgia.
Alyssa’s journey from a wide-eyed girl with a plastic badge to the commanding officer of an entire department is more than just an inspiring career story. It’s a tale of perseverance, resilience, and the power of holding onto a childhood dream — no matter how impossible it may seem.
A Childhood Shaped by Service
Alyssa grew up in a modest home in a tight-knit community. Her father was a postal worker, her mother a school librarian. Neither were in law enforcement, but they instilled in Alyssa a strong sense of duty, fairness, and justice.
She remembers the exact moment she fell in love with the idea of being a police officer.
“A female officer came to our kindergarten class for Career Day. She had her hair pulled back, stood tall, and when she spoke, the entire room got quiet. She gave me a sticker badge,” Alyssa recalls. “I wore it for weeks.”
What started as a fascination grew into a full-blown calling. She read detective novels instead of fairy tales and watched crime dramas with the kind of attention most kids reserved for cartoons.
Barriers, Biases, and Breaking Through
Even with her early passion, the road wasn’t easy.
After high school, Alyssa enrolled in the criminal justice program at a local university, where she was one of only three Black women in a class of 200. Professors were supportive, but she felt the weight of being underestimated — especially when she expressed her desire to lead, not just serve.
“People would say, ‘You’re too soft-spoken,’ or ‘Chief is a long shot,’” she says. “But I never saw that as a reason to stop. I saw it as a reason to keep going.”
She graduated with honors and joined the Hawthorne County Police Department at age 23. At the time, there were few women in patrol and even fewer in leadership. Alyssa was determined to change that.
Climbing the Ranks
Over the next two decades, Alyssa did what few dared to do: she climbed.
Starting as a patrol officer, she gained a reputation for integrity, calm under pressure, and exceptional investigative instincts. She quickly rose to detective, then sergeant, and by her 35th birthday, she had made lieutenant.
But her biggest test came during a hostage situation at a local high school — a case that could have ended in tragedy if not for her quick thinking and calm negotiation. That moment cemented her reputation as a leader with vision and empathy, capable of balancing community trust with law enforcement demands.
“It wasn’t just how she handled the crisis,” says Deputy Chief Eric Vance. “It was how she treated the victims, the students, and even the suspect — like people. That’s what leadership looks like.”
Making History as Chief
When the former police chief retired in 2024, Alyssa was the department’s deputy chief — and the natural choice to take the helm. Still, her appointment was met with mixed reactions.
Some community members celebrated the historic milestone, while others questioned whether a Black woman could lead the force through increasingly complex challenges: public scrutiny, rising crime, and internal reforms.
Alyssa met the doubt head-on.
“I didn’t take this job to be a symbol. I took it because I’ve earned it, and because I believe in what this department can be.”
Since taking office, she has implemented body camera upgrades, launched community policing initiatives, and led recruitment efforts to bring more diversity into the department.
One of her proudest moments? Swearing in a new class of officers last fall — including six women and four people of color.
From Toy Badge to Real Badge
Looking back, Alyssa sees the symbolism of that plastic badge she wore as a child. It wasn’t about pretending. It was about believing in something before the world believed in her.
Today, she keeps that toy badge in a shadow box on her desk — right next to her real one.
“I keep it there to remind myself where I started. And to remind every young girl who walks into this office: your dreams are valid.”
Impact Beyond the Badge
Beyond her daily duties, Alyssa is deeply involved in mentorship and outreach. She speaks regularly at local schools, hosts “Coffee with a Cop” sessions, and leads an initiative called “Badge of Honor,” pairing officers with teens interested in criminal justice careers.
Her leadership has reduced complaint rates by 30% and increased public satisfaction with the police department — numbers that matter to city officials and residents alike.
But for Alyssa, the most important impact isn’t on paper. It’s in the faces of the girls she meets every week.
“When a little girl points at me and says, ‘She’s the chief?’ — I smile every time,” she says. “Because I remember being her. And now she sees it’s possible.”
The Road Ahead
At 41, Chief Alyssa Montgomery isn’t done dreaming. She’s currently working with state leaders to help develop statewide reforms on officer training and mental health resources.
“I want to make sure the badge represents not just power, but protection and partnership,” she explains.
And when asked if she’d ever consider running for mayor or higher office, she laughs.
“I’m not ruling anything out. But for now, I’ve got a community to protect — and a promise to keep to that little girl who first wore a badge in her backyard.”
Conclusion: A Living Inspiration
Chief Alyssa Montgomery’s story is more than an individual success. It’s a powerful example of how vision, grit, and compassion can break barriers, challenge stereotypes, and create change that echoes far beyond the walls of any precinct.
From a plastic toy badge at five years old to leading an entire police force, Alyssa stands as a beacon of possibility — not just for girls who look like her, but for anyone who dares to believe that dreams can become destiny.
And every morning, when she pins on that real badge, she’s not just going to work — she’s living proof that courage starts early, and leadership has no limits
