He may be a rookie as a police officer, but he is no rookie when it comes to public safety. Peachtree City Police Cpl. James Beato for his work as a first year officer received the award for Rookie of the Year on May 7 at the District Attorney’s 3rd Annual Law Enforcement Banquet.

One of four nominees for the honor from across the Griffin Judicial Circuit, Beato is a former New York City firefighter who moved south with his family after retiring.

Speaking to the 500 in attendance at Fayetteville First Baptist Church, District Attorney Scott Ballard said Beato was on duty on Sept. 11, 2001.

“On that day he saw unspeakable horror and experienced the anguish from the loss of colleagues that only those who were there can know,” Ballard said.

After retiring with 13 years as a firefighter, Beato and his family moved to Georgia to be closer to family, Ballard said, adding that Beato was a public servant who did not take up residence in a rocking chair.

“Although he had certainly earned the right to relax, he became involved with the Peachtree City Citizen’s Police Academy,” said Ballard. “He attended the CERT (Community Emergency Response Team) training sponsored by the Peachtree City Police Department. Then he started his second career in public service by becoming a police officer. He has worked very hard to learn as much as possible every day. He volunteers for extra details and the non-glamorous duties that have to get done. Now, he helps instruct others who attend CERT classes.”

Other nominees for Rookie of the Year included Georgia State Patrol (Griffin Post) Trooper William Schwab, Fayette County Sheriff’s Office Detention Officer Jodi Marshall and Griffin Police Department Patrolman robert Jones.

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