Auburn Police Chief Tommy Dawson has excused himself from police work in efforts to restore his health. He announced to the department Thursday, March 7, that he would, by doctor's recommendation, be taking a two-month leave of absence.
"It'll be hard to stay away," Dawson said. "It's all I've done for 26 years almost. It's sad because you finally get to where you want to be in the division, and you get your health problems."
Dawson has battled with Parkinson's disease for the last five years.
"I'll be back, just a couple months," Dawson said. "It's going to be a tough couple months, but I'll make it through."
This announcement came shortly after the Auburn Chamber of Commerce awarded Dawson their Chairman's Award on Thursday, Feb. 28.
"It brought me to tears, because to know that the public thinks so highly of you that the people you work to serve think that you're doing a good job makes you feel good," Dawson said.
According to the City of Auburn, Dawson was pivotal in the effort that lowered crime statistics in Auburn. Over the past two years, the city has seen a 58 percent reduction in building burglaries and an 18 percent increase in arrests over the past five years.
"They were kind enough to show they appreciated me," Dawson said. "I don't deserve it. I'm very humbled by it. Credit goes to the Auburn community, our great citizens and our great men and women we have working at the police department. We have some really great officers and would not be successful without their hard work."
Dawson, a fourth-generation Auburn native, has worked for the Auburn Police since 1987. He started as a patrol officer for three years before working as a narcotics detective for 13 years. He was then promoted to lieutenant in 2003.
"I wanted to give back to the Auburn community and be a public servant," Dawson said.
Dawson graduated from the Federal Bureau of Investigation's National Academy in 2006 before pursuing a degree in criminal justice. In 2008 he was promoted to assistant chief and then chief in 2010.
"I really like the job, because I can give back to the community. The Auburn community has been better to me than any community ever could be. I really am very appreciative," Dawson said. "It's a really unique job here because you get to work with the students. I hope I've made a difference in some of those lives along the way. I certainly tried to."
Dawson said his favorite part of the job is his work with the students, and said working with students is like adapting to a different culture.
"I feel like our students now actually have a friend here at the Auburn Police Department," Dawson said. "I feel like they know they can count on us. When you hear one of them say they feel safe here in Auburn it makes it a lot more worth it."
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