Kindergarten students often rush up to the police officers they see just to say “hi” or even “thank you.”  Many want to dress as police officers and look to them as role models.  

Cobb Schools Police Lt. Mike Wilson has dedicated his career to building and maintaining strong relationships with students, ensuring those connections grow as they transition from elementary to middle school and eventually step onto a high school campus for the first time. 

That’s why the long-serving police officer helped start and grow the “Concerned COPS Program” in schools.  

“I feel that I can make a difference in some of  these kids’ lives. It is my desire to teach as many as I can about life. The school district gives me that opportunity,” explained Lt. Wilson.  

Through the mentoring program, Lt. Wilson aimed to  help students realize the lasting effects their actions can  have on their opportunities and relationships.  

His goal has been to establish an open dialogue with  all students and answer their questions, furthering the  students’ and community’s confidence in public safety  officials. Lt. Wilson and his fellow officers have mentored  hundreds of students in addition to the daily relationships  they build with students.  

“Our Concerned Cops Program is one small way that  we can give something to the kids we serve and protect,”  the veteran police officer added.  

Before joining the Cobb Schools Police Department,  Lt. Wilson served with the Atlanta Police Department,  where he saw firsthand the tragic and sometimes fatal  outcomes that result from young people’s poor choices. He  committed himself to stopping that from happening to the  Cobb students he met.  

Following his retirement from Atlanta PD, he considered  becoming a teacher, inspired by his wife’s decades of  service in Cobb Schools. His goal was to give back to the  district his own children attended.  

However, instead of spending time in front of a class of  students, Lt. Wilson discovered his path to helping students  was to join the Cobb Schools Police Department, where he  could build positive relationships with them.  

He served as a campus police officer at Wheeler High  School and Harrison High School before transitioning to the  Cobb Schools Police Department headquarters.  

For his mentoring work, the veteran Cobb Schools  police officer was nominated for the Cobb Chamber’s 2019  Public Safety Award and recognized during the Chamber’s  Public Safety Appreciation breakfast.  

According to his nomination, “Lieutenant Michael Wilson  is a perfect example of what an outstanding leader should  represent. He promotes a positive example… He is support ive of his peers and is eager to assist or find solutions to all  issues that may arise.”  

Part of Lt. Wilson’s success with students is due to his  ability to build relationships. It’s a skill that dates to his time  with the Atlanta PD, where he served as the Assistant Team  Lead of the Hostage Negotiation Team. He learned how to  build trust and rapport with those who are struggling and  facing difficult circumstances.  

As an Atlanta Police Officer, he climbed to the top of  a crane hundreds of feet in the sky above Buckhead. He  spent six hours at the top of the crane negotiating with a  suspect who refused to come down.  

That’s the type of dedication and commitment Lt.  Wilson has brought to Cobb Schools.  

In all, Lt. Wilson has served in law enforcement for over  40 years. Before stepping into uniform as a police officer,  Lt. Wilson served in the U.S. Army. He also worked with the  Fulton County Sheriff’s Office and was recruited by the FBI  as a Special Agent in Newark, New Jersey, before returning  home to the Atlanta area.  

After decades of service, Lt. Wilson is retiring. His contri butions, including mentoring students, creating safer com munities, and fostering positive relationships, leave a legacy  that will continue to impact Cobb Schools.  

He may not have served as a teacher in a classroom,  but he and his fellow members of the Cobb Schools Police  Department help students succeed every day. One Team,  One Goal: Student Success.