Cobb Bar Association Honors Marietta Officer and K-9

CUMBERLAND — The Cobb Bar Association named Marietta Police Officer Paul Hill and K-9 Barney as its Public Safety Officers of the Year at the annual Law Day Awards luncheon.

Hill is the school resource officer for Marietta City Schools, while Barney is a two-year-old English Labrador. Hill received a plaque, while Barney received a box of dog biscuits, which Barney reacted to with enthusiasm, jumping up trying to reach for them.

“It’s an extreme honor,” Hill said. “I’m very fortunate to get to do what I love to do every day, and just having Barney just makes it even better.”

Cobb State Court Judge Diana Simmons, who presented the award, said Hill pitched an idea to get a crisis response dog for both Marietta City Schools and the Marietta Police Department.

“The Marietta Schools Foundation agreed to fund his passion project, and after waiting for the perfect doggie partner to be bred, born and trained very specifically for this project, we got Barney,” she said.

Barney was trained for two years in New Mexico to respond to people’s emotional needs before joining the Marietta Police Department.

Simmons said that training came to good use last September after the death of Liv Teverino, a 16-year-old Marietta High School student who was the favorite babysitter of one of Simmons’ friends.

“One of my friends who is not a dog person wondered why we need a dog like this,” Simmons said. “Her daughter is in my youngest son’s first grade class. Last September, their very dear friend and her daughter’s favorite babysitter was killed in a car wreck. Everyone was devastated. Elizabeth, my son’s friend, found out accidentally in the car on the way to school the next day.”

Simmons said her friend’s daughter could not stop crying, and eventually said she needed to see Barney.

“I don’t know if there is a Barney bat signal or if you hold a Milk-Bone in the air, or if he just knows when he is needed, but when he is, Barney showed up,” Simmons said. “Elizabeth could not stop crying until she saw Barney. Barney got there, Elizabeth laid down on the floor, crawled over to Barney, cried it out on top of him and he laid there until she was finished.”

Last July, Barney was commended for saving the life of a woman who had threatened to commit suicide in the midst of a mental health crisis. Hill and Barney responded to a call where the woman had locked herself in a bathroom, threatening to end her own life. According to the Marietta Police Department, when they arrived, the woman had left the bathroom and was on a bed. Barney followed his training, jumping onto the bed and laying down next to the woman. K-9 Barney let her snuggle with him as officers called in for backup attempted to deescalate the situation.

Hill said seeing what Barney is able to do is humbling.

“What Barney does is something that only Barney can do,” Hill said. “He is the most gentle, one of the most kind, non-judgmental creatures you would ever meet. Things he’s able to do are things I could never do, but him walking into a room helps calm a lot of people down.”

Hill, originally from central Mississippi, lives in Marietta with his wife Amanda and two children, Payton, 16 and Miley, 14.

The Cobb Bar also presented the following awards at the ceremony:

Liberty Bell Award: David Darden, retired Cobb State Court judge. The award recognizes an individual or entity whose community service has strengthened our system of freedom under the law by promoting a better understanding of and respect for the Constitution and laws.

Bobby Cleveland Award: the late Van Pearlberg, former Marietta councilman and assistant attorney general and the late Stacy Hylton, family law attorney. The award recognizes a Cobb County Bar member who demonstrates the highest practice of law over the course of their professional career.

Ross Adams Younger Lawyer Award: Chelsey Haun. This award is for a younger attorney who has made a significant contribution to the legal community and the Cobb County Bar Association.

Cobb Legal Aid Richard L. Moore Volunteer of the Year: Benjamin Persons. This award is for a Cobb County Bar member who has provided or promoted volunteer legal services to Cobb County Legal Aid.

Jimmy Berry Champion of Justice Award: Maddox Kilgore and Carlos Rodriguez, criminal defense attorneys. This award is for a Cobb County Bar member who has strengthened and promoted justice and the Constitution for the citizen accused through one exceptional case or a continuous course of conduct.

Babe Atkins-Byrne Excellence in Legal Administration Award: Robin Hahn. This award is for a non-lawyer working in the judicial system or law practice who enhanced the administration of justice, rule of law and the Constitution.

Judge A. Harris Adams Justice Award: Diana Simmons, Cobb State Court judge. This award is for a Cobb County judge who reflects a principle of an independent, fair and compliant judiciary.

Thomas J. Charron Public Service Award: Cathy Waddell. This award is for a Cobb Bar member dedicated to a full-time practice in prosecution, public interest, education or government service with a record of extraordinary achievement and a reputation for excellence and trust.