For the second time in the past pair of months, a local law enforcement officer has been awarded for his contributions towards our community.
Recently, Major Trey Burgamy of the Washington County Sheriff’s Office was recognized at the Gotcha Covered Blankets Annual Gala in Smyrna.
Major Burgamy was presented with their Community Devotion Award.
He was nominated for voting consideration by Dr. Annise Mabry, educator Georgia Larimore, and medical professional Tetra Jenkins.
Gotcha Covered Blankets is a 501c organization that supplies police departments with blankets to be housed in patrol cars. The blankets are to be distributed by officer discretion to homeless individuals for warmth or to those involved in traffic or traumatic events for comfort.
The original idea of the blanket distribution system stemmed from Smyrna Police Officer Mitchell Georgiana, who tragically passed not long after he texted his mother with a request for any old blankets.
The family of the late hero honored his request and memory with the formation of Gotcha Covered Blankets, which recognizes other outstanding officers throughout the state for the implementation of their innovative ideas and projects. They have gifted thousands of blankets to statewide police departments and sheriff’s offices for distribution in their individual communities.
In December, Major Burgamy was also recognized as a recipient of the Flame of Hope Award.
Honored in a ceremony the the State Capitol in Atlanta by the Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Disabilities, Burgamy was one of only 10 individuals from across the state of Georgia named as winners.
The Flame of Hope Award honors outstanding Georgians who are helping address mental health, recovery, and support for individuals with disabilities.
“Major Trey Burgamy is dedicated to bridging law enforcement and behavioral health in Washington County. From crisis intervention training to establishing a Mental Health Task Force, his work has improved community relations and crisis response,” said Washington County Sheriff Joel Cochran. “We are proud of Major Burgamy and all that his team are doing here in Washington and surrounding counties.”
Major Trey Burgamy was a 1991 graduate of John Hancock Academy in Sparta. He then received an associate’s degree in criminal justice from Georgia Military College in Milledgeville.
Burgamy has a career in law enforcement that spans over 32 years – beginning as a Correctional Officer in 1992. After 13 years with the Georgia Department of Corrections, he then worked as a Detective for the Tennille Police Department.
Major Burgamy has been an Investigator with the Washington County Sheriff’s Office for over 13 years. He holds a passion for improving relations between those in mental health distress and law enforcement response.
In recent years, the Major has established the Washington County Mental Health Task Force that includes local law enforcement and concerned community leaders.
